Mumbai: Indian boxer Mary Kom has announced that the Tokyo Olympics will be her last Olympics appearance. She also said that she takes solace in the fact that her bronze medal in 2012 has inspired young girls in the country to take up the sport.
Six-time world winner Kom has been competing for two decades but had to wait for the London Games for a shot at the Olympic Games in 2012 when women were allowed to compete for the first time.
“Tokyo will be my last Olympics, age matters here. I’m 38 now, going on 39,” Kom told the Olympic Channel.
“Four (three) more years is a long time. I am sure that even if I wish to be taken to Paris by 2024, I will not be allowed to. The age limit for boxers is set at 40 but was extended to 41 for the Tokyo Games which were pushed back by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Kom, who failed to make the cut for the Rio Games in 2016, won the chance to qualify for Tokyo 2020 by defeating the young challenger in a trial in 2019.
“The Olympics are huge. For any player, participating in sports and winning medals is a dream, it changes lives,” she added.
“Being an Olympian and winning bronze also changed my life. This inspired many women to play, especially boxing.
“I am proud of. I want more and more girls to come out and fight. I hope there is no restriction on them to fight and come out for themselves and their country.”
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