DNA Explainer: Why boxing legend MC Mary Kom said her Olympics 2020 defeat was “unfair”?

The video of MC Mary Kom’s Round of 16 bout with Ingrit Valencia on the official Tokyo Olympics YouTube channel shows a banner during the post-bout visuals stating “Magnificent Mary bowed out with a smile on her face.” A closer look will tell you that Mary Kom seems smiling and jubilant believing she had been adjudged the winner.

Mary Kom bowed out of Tokyo Olympics after a valiant effort, losing to Colombia's Ingrit Valencia by just one point. The former Olympic bronze medallist was left shocked when she realized that she had lost.

Losing on a 3-2 split decision verdict despite winning two of the three rounds has left the boxer confused and unconvinced. Not just that, Mary Kom has stated that she will be taking up the issue with boxing’s task force.

What caused the confusion?

Boxing matches usually end with the announcment of the verdict of the judges and the referee raising the hand of the winning boxer. However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place the custom of raising the winner’s hand has been suspended at Tokyo Olympics.

Mary reportedly did not hear that the announcement had given the decision to Ingrit in the red corner. Both boxers raised their hands with huge smiles on their faces before referee pointed towards Valencia, a gesture that Mary didn’t see.

She celebrated and her opponent too hugged Mary and raised her hand. It was only later on she realized what had happened.

Mary Kom said, “I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost.”

It was only after reading a congratulatory tweet from Indian union minister Kiren Rijiju that Mary realized the decision didn't go her way.

For all of us @MangteC was the clear winner but Judges have their own calculations https://t.co/bDxjHFK9MZ pic.twitter.com/gVgSEugq4Q

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 29, 2021

Why Mary Kom thinks the decision is unfair?

The match was a gritty and cagey affair where Valencia was arguably much more potent than she has been when facing the marauding Mary Kom in the past. The Colombian boxer, who lost 5:0 to Mary Kom at the World Championships in 2019, took the first round.

While the Indian juggernaut came back winning round two and three, Valence had more points over the three rounds during the final tallying of scores given by individual judges.

In round one, Valencia was awarded 10 points by four of the five judges while only one gave Mary 10. In both the other rounds, three judges gave Mary 10 points while Valencia managed 10 from only two.

However, the final tallying saw Valencia’s round one advantage prevail over Mary’s brilliant comeback.

"Some sports have legends, some have Mary Kom."

The legendary boxer from #IND gave it her all and then bowed out with a smile on her face

Some champion stuff right there! #Tokyo2020 | #BestOfTokyo | #Boxing | #StrongerTogether | #UnitedByEmotion @MangteC pic.twitter.com/P8hStrvU9n

— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) July 29, 2021

Mary Kom reportedly said, “The bout was not too close also. First round, I don’t know why it was 4-1 (in Valencia’s favour); there was no fighting, there were no clear punches… I won the second and third rounds so when two rounds are mine, I should win. Why should they give it to her?”

Why can Mary do about it?

Unconvinced by the decision, Mary has stated that she will be reaching out to the boxing taskforce after some time and will raise the issue.

She is also considering resigning from the position of an athlete ambassador of International Olympic Committee’s Task Force at Tokyo Olympics in the light of the ‘unfair’ decision.

Mary has reportedly said, “I will definitely raise this issue after some time… now I don’t think it’s the right time because I am not in control of my emotions after realising I haven’t won. I gave a suggestion to the members of the task force to have free and fair judges in big games. I pointed this out all the time. Now, I don’t know why I have received this kind of unfair judgment. So, I will maybe give my resignation and no longer be a part of the task force.”

In the aftermath of the controversy, Mary Kom has also expressed that she was surprised after the organizers asked her to change her jersey a minute before the bout.

Surprising..can anyone explain what will be a ring dress. I was ask to change my ring dress just a minute before my pre qtr bout can anyone explain. @PMOIndia @ianuragthakur @KirenRijiju @iocmedia @Olympics pic.twitter.com/b3nwPXSdl1

— M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) July 30, 2021