JOIN USShe is India’s foremost woman pugilist, who dominated the ring for over a decade. Mary Kom is a force to reckon with — be it inside the ring or outside of it. As she prepares to don the gloves for one last time in the upcoming Rio Olympics, she answers questions pertaining to various aspects. Excerpts from the interview:
How hopeful are you of winning a medal in Rio?
I am very confident about winning a medal at Rio. I fully concentrate on my training and I am giving my best effort. After all, it is Olympics and the competition will be tough, even the qualifying rounds. Winning or not will be decided by my hard work and the Almighty, who is in control.
Tell us a bit about your preparation. How is it shaping up?
I spend most of my time at the National Training Camp. It’s been more than two months that I am away from home. I train with different coaches and sparring partners. Besides national camp, I also train separately with trainers of my choice. I am grateful to the Ministry of Sports for looking into all my needs towards my training; also my team for all the support — in terms of planning, suggestions and logistics.
You have already said that you’ll retire post the Rio Olympics. Are you going to reconsider that decision?
As of now, no. But let us see if there will be a brighter platform...
What do you plan to do after your retirement?
For the moment, my complete concentration is on training for the Rio Olympics in August. As the saying goes, “Change is the only constant.” One of my ambitions is to give a fillip to boxing in India. I have set up a Boxing Academy in Manipur, where I will personally train my students and will try to give the academy the best shape I can.
How do you prepare yourself before a game? How do you motivate yourself?
Firstly, nothing can be achieved without efforts. And to win something, we must be willing to sacrifice something. I have made a lot of sacrifices to achieve my current state. Secondly, it is important to identify one’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and work towards developing them. My passion for boxing and the sharp focus in training are my two strong pillars. This will be my last attempt for the Olympics, and I need to give my best…this is how I motivate myself.
Tell us about your diet...
Sportspersons need loads of energy and strength for endurance. And boxing, being a high-endurance sport, energy and strength are at the top of the ladder. Also, boxing involves certain limits on our body weight; we cannot go lower or higher from the limit. Once I start training, my weight goes down tremendously. I need to maintain it well along with being comfortable and fit. For this reason, I carry with me local rice, which is rich in starch, energy drinks and supplements to stay energetic and alert throughout my training.
Once you retire, those are big gloves to fill. Who do you think will do it?
I cannot say a word on this. Honestly, I am sometimes disappointed seeing the performances of my juniors. I don’t say they are weak or hopeless, but I expect them to beat me, taking into account my health condition and age. But they still aren’t able to. At the same time, like every profession, performance improves with practice and experience. I believe good and better boxers will come up with proper guidance.
Would you want your kids to take up boxing, or say any other sport as a
career choice?
Children today are more informed and their exposure to things are very different compared to our days. It is entirely upto my children what they wish to do with their future. I am here to support and fuel their dreams and aspirations.
Looking back into your life, so far, what has been your all-time high
moment...
Though small, winning silver in the first World Women’s Boxing Championship held at Pennsylvania USA, in 2002 has remained one of the most exciting moments for me as it was my first experience at the international level. And after 10 years, winning an Olympic medal in 2012 has remained my all-time high moment.
How important is it in sports to respect a decision and not let emotions take a front seat? How do you tackle such situations?
Everybody in every field wants to win and it is hard to accept defeat. When I lose, it is hard for me too. But life is all about hits and misses. I always console myself saying that this is a game. Losing and winning are a part of it. Even if I lose today, I can still win tomorrow. It’s all about perseverance, determination and staying at it — that is crucial.
What’s your mantra for success?
Hard work, passion, firm determination, confidence and faith. I have experienced miracles in my own life, especially on my wounds and situations. We shouldn’t ignore God’s blessings.
(IBNS/Trans World Features)