Five-time Olympic World Champion and Indian women's boxing poster girl Mary Kom believes that competition and age are now fast catching up with her.
In a programme in Mumbai, the pint-sized pugilist did not shy away from speaking of her journey in an unconventional sport like Boxing. The sport in itself is not percieved to be glamorous one and the lack of lucrative options further discourages budding athletes from taking it up.
"Boxing has many challenges as people are still trying to understand and learn about the sport. I had to be really patient, make sacrifices and there was a lot of hardwork. It is now that women's boxing has started to get recognition. I faced many challenges after marriage and bearing children" said Mary Kom at an event organised by Edelweiss Tokio Life in Mumbai on Thursday.
The talented boxer is currently running a Boxing academy back home in Manipur, for which she was presented with a cheque Rs.5 lakhs by Edelweiss Tokio Life and Edelgive.
She is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), who have former Olympian and captain of the Indian Men's Hockey team Viren Rasquinha as its CEO.
"We at OGQ firstly identify the right talent and then create a structurised and personalised support system. There is a lot of raw talent, which will win us medals at junior-level tournaments but not at the Olympics or tournaments of that level" said Rasquinha.
"For an athlete to be able to deliver good results, the entire team has to be world-class- physios, nutritionists and coaches. A lot of behind the scene preparation goes on. Everyone needs to be given the right platform to create multiple Mary Koms" added the ISB graduate.
On competition the 31-year-old said "After being in professional boxing for six, seven years now the competition has increased. Earlier there weren't any challengers. This is because the sport is popular across the world."
Mary Kom feels that it is a lot easier to be a world champion, but it is the maintenance (funds for diet, training, recovery) that keeps one going even in the longer run. She says "It is important to sponsor and support an athlete otherwise India will not be able to produce champions and world-class athletes. However with the support I am getting for my academy my aim will be to create champions not only from Manipur but all corners of India.
She will miss World Championships this year as she currently nurses a shoulder and a hamstring injury. Her plan is to recover and come back stronger. She compares this period with the one in which she made her Asian Games comeback after the birth of her third child, Prince.
"I will be back next year and train really hard after I recover. I have already had three major surgeries."
At a media interaction the star boxer showed signs of weariness and not being able to continue beyond Rio 2016 Olympics.
"After Rio 2016 I might not be able (to continue)...will (maybe) retire."
She refused to answer questions on who would replace her or who she feels is a threat to her, pleading with the mediapersons to not get her embroiled in a controversy. Recuperating back home, she is following the world championships but finds it difficult to say who well or win, owing to the increased competition.
A similar answer was given when she was quizzed on the Sarita Devi ban. She said "If I talk about Sarita it will lead to a controversy. I don't want any controversy in my career. However I hope that the ban on her is lifted at the earliest" she said.
"It has becoming tougher and tougher as weak nations like Myanmar or any other small European non-boxing nations have started performing well. So we also need to not lose concentration, stay focussed, not get overconfident and take our bouts seriously."
She did not feel necessary to clarify on a review of refereeing decisions after the Asian Games debacle.
The injury is now allowing her to spend time with her family and look at her academy which is under construction and has been receiving good talent while she awaits the second instalment of funds.
The Bollywood biopic that was based on her life inspired many she says.
On the road ahead for women's boxing in India she naively says "Let's pray and hopefully more champions will emerge soon."
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