Six-time world boxing champion M C Mary Kom has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification at the Paris Olympics due to a weight issue.
Phogat, a gold medal contender, was disqualified for being 100 grams over the 50kg limit, leading to her Olympic heartbreak.
Mary Kom, speaking at an event in Mumbai where she was named brand ambassador for Utkarsh Small Finance Bank, emphasized that maintaining the correct weight is the responsibility of every athlete.
“I felt so disappointed in the sense that I have also done the same (weight management) for the last so many years. Weight is important, that is my responsibility. I cannot blame anyone,” she told PTI, reflecting on her own career where she successfully managed weight for numerous competitions.
Mary Kom, India’s first woman boxer to win an Olympic medal, shared her personal experiences, noting that without proper weight management, it would be impossible for an athlete to compete at their best.
“If I do not cut the weight properly, then how will I play? I am there to win a medal and that is what I think,” she added.
Phogat had tried various measures, including skipping meals and cutting her hair, but her appeal against the disqualification was rejected. She has since retired and is contesting the Haryana assembly elections.
(With inputs from PTI)