Boxer Mary Kom denied wild card entry into Rio Olympics

TIL Desk Sports/ Her last hope for an Olympic berth might be over after the denial of a wildcard, but star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom today said she would not hang up her gloves just yet. The 33-year-old five-time world champion could not make the cut for Rio via the two qualifiers and last-ditch attempts by the Indian Olympic Association and the ad-hoc committee administering boxing in India to fetch her a wildcard entry also fell through after the IOC declined the request.

“I have been duly informed that I won’t be getting a wildcard for the Olympics. It is heartbreaking but it is something which I had no control on. I have to accept this decision but I am not quitting the sport right now. I will continue to compete till I am feeling fit and for the time being I think I am fit,” Mary Kom.

The London Olympic bronze-medallist missed two chances to book a Rio berth — first in March at the Asian Zone Qualifiers and then last month at the World Championships. After this, the IOA and the ad-hoc committee approached the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for a Tripartite Commission Invitation Place, which happened to be just one in her category. “The ad-hoc committee has had a word with AIBA President Dr Ching Kuo Wu. It was always going to be tough to get a wildcard,” she said.