Mary Kom gets back in the ring

Mary Kom’s main concern at the moment, though, is proving her fitness and winning gold at September’s Asian Championship in Guwahati.

The Manipuri is vigorously going through weight training and sparring sessions with her team mates at the Hissar camp for the past month. Speaking to The Indian Express, she said it was difficult to sit for more than a year and a half and do nothing. She gave birth to twins a while back and had to keep the boxing gloves away.

“I had to take complete rest, doctors had advised me not to box for some time. Then I had to take care of my sons. It was a difficult period but my husband was very cooperative. At the moment, I am focussing on regaining my fitness and form,” she said.

“Vijender and his team mates have inspired us all. We hope in the London Games women’s boxing will be included and we can win a few more medals.”

Mary Kom hopes she will be able to enter the ring with full confidence in the Asian Championship, beginning in Guwahati from September 23. The championship will see boxers from 16 Asian nations, including China, South and North Korea, Mongolia, Japan. Indian boxers will participate in all 13 weight categories. “This will be a test event for me before the world championship in China,” she declared.

Her coach Anoop Kumar said she did have some fitness problems but he was trying to sort them out. “After a two-year lay-off, it is bound to happen. But she is amazingly fit otherwise. She needs to sharpen her skills, particularly with her punches,” he said.

Mary Kom will not be part of the exposure team for the Witch Cup in Hungary from September 2. She will, however, join the rest of the girls in Guwahati at the camp after the Hungary event. The selection trials will be held on September 14.