Mary Kom questions protest rule at World Championships
New Delhi: Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom on Tuesday questioned the rationale behind the rule which did not allow her to lodge a protest after her semifinal loss in the recent World Championships.
"Our protest was not considered as it was a 1-4 verdict. I don't know what this rule is, that you cannot file an appeal if it is 1-4," Mary Kom said on the sidelines of a felicitation function by the Sports Ministry.
"If deserving winners are made to lose, it does not do any good to the sport," said the 36-year-old who won her maiden 51kg medal, a bronze, in the just-concluded World Championships in Russia.
After Mary Kom lost her semifinals bout 1-4 to Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey, India lodged a protest but it was turned down by the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) technical committee.
The rules mandate that the decision has to be either 3-2 or 3-1 for an appeal to be even accepted for consideration.
Asked if there was any bias against her in the decision, she said, "Of course, there was something fishy but I don't know what exactly is that."
"I was sad and shocked but I could not do anything," said the brand ambassador of the AIBA.
Just after the semifinal loss, she had said that it was an unacceptable result and could never imagine something like that would happen to her.
Mary Kom said she was in the best shape during the World Championships and her performance has renewed her confidence that she can do better at the Tokyo Olympics.
"Despite the semifinal loss, the World Championship was a good preparation for the road ahead. I was in the best shape and I found the right balance for 51kg category in this World Championship. This has given me confidence that I can do much better in Olympics," she added.
Manju Rani, who won a silver in 48kg, and other bronze winners Jamuna Boro (54kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) were also felicitated.
Manju's category is not included in the Tokyo Olympics and she said she "will jump weight if 48kg is not there in the 2024 Olympics."
"Olympics is my target, let us see," said the 20-year-old Haryana boxer who won the silver in her debut World Championships.
"I played kabaddi initially but found that I have no future in that because the performance of any member can affect the whole team. In individual sport, it is all your performance that counts," she said.
"I took up to boxing and my uncle became my coach. He does not know much about boxing and he had to learn himself first before teaching me."
She did not get selection in the team for Nationals from her home state of Haryana. So, she represented Punjab in the Nationals and won a gold to be selected for the national camp.
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Rupee falls 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 20 paise to 95.43 against US dollar in early trade on Tuesday as market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces in the Gulf region.
Forex traders said investor anxiety due to instability in the Gulf is causing massive capital flight into safe-haven assets, with the US dollar acting as the primary beneficiary.
Moreover, Brent oil prices is hovering near USD 113 per barrel, maintaining pressure on oil-importing economies like India.
At the interbank foreign exchange market the rupee opened at 95.30 then lost ground to touch 95.43 against the US dollar, in initial trade, registering a fall of 20 paise over its previous close.
Rupee fell 39 paise to close at an all-time low of 95.23 against the US dollar on Monday.
"With oil boiling rupee on Monday fell to a closing low of 95.0875 and this morning the opening was still lower as it becomes more and more vulnerable when dollar index rises due to safe-haven buying and oil prices rise due to the continuous fighting in the Gulf Region," Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director, Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP, said.
The higher oil prices will keep rupee sold off against the dollar as oil companies and FPIs intensify dollar buying, Bhansali added.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.51, up 0.15 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading lower by 1.07 per cent at USD 113.22 per barrel in futures trade.
"Market sentiments remained fragile after renewed military exchanges between US and Iranian forces when Iranian forces launched fresh attacks in the Gulf as both sides sought to assert control over the strategic waterway," Bhansali said.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 361.62 points to 76,907.78 in early trade, while the Nifty dropped 134.90 points to 23,980.60.
Foreign Institutional Investors purchased equities worth Rs 2,835.62 crore on Monday, according to exchange data.
