‘Olympics is in my mind, I am still dreaming’

The joy of the sixth World title beamed on Mary Kom’s face. Post the London Olympics bronze, she had been selective in her tournaments, and the World Championships at home topped in her priority list. Now Mary Kom is nursing hopes for Tokyo Olympics, though she admits it will be an enormous task for her.

With 48 kg not included in the Olympics, it required the 35-year-old to switch her weight category to 51 kg for the 2012 London Games, where she had clinched the bronze medal.

“I was not able to qualify the Rio Olympics and still (my) category is not in the Olympic Games.

“Had 48kg been there I could have easily given you the gold at the Olympics.

“But in 51 kg, height (dis)advantage is also there,” said Mary Kom, who surpassed another legend Katie Taylor in the number of World titles.

She is now at par with Cuba’s legendary Felix Savon, who has six gold medals from the men’s championship. Altogether, Mary has seven medals from the elite competition, starting 2001 when she won the silver medal in Scranton, USA.

“Olympics is in my mind. I am still dreaming. I won bronze in 2012 London Olympics. As an athlete, as a boxer my discipline, I want to win the gold medal for my country.”

For her feat, she was also awarded the “Best Boxer” award.

“Today I was very emotional. I could not control myself after winning sixth times. Without my family support, I could not have done that. I have never missed my training even after my commitments. It has never been the whole day I did not train,” said Mary, whose fifth gold medal came in 2010.

“Today’s result is because of training and focusing and playing smart.

“In boxing you can’t win with strength, first seven years I have only fought with strength.

“ I just used to slog and it was like a bull fight, just kept hitting. Now I have learned and I am using my mind. The youngster need to learn.

“The most difficult is to handle pressure. I wanted to give my best to get the sixth title.

“I won five gold on the trot. Katie Taylor (of Ireland) had not done like that,” she said.