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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Siddaramaiah and I have come to understanding, we will abide by it: Shivakumar
Karwar (Karnataka) (PTI): Not willing to make any direct statement on whether there will be a chief minister change in the state, Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar on Friday said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
Stating that Siddaramaiah is CM as per the high command's decision, he clarified that he has never made any comments on the former's tenure.
Siddaramaiah, earlier in the day, had affirmed that he would remain in office for his full five-year term, expressing confidence in the Congress high command's support.
During a discussion in the Assembly on the issues pertaining to North Karnataka's development, Siddaramaiah also said he never mentioned that he was the chief minister for only two-and-a-half years.
"I had never said, he (Siddaramaiah) will not be there (as CM) for five years. I have never said that the high command is not with him. As the high command is with him, he is chief minister today," Shivakumar told reporters here.
Noting that Siddaramaiah is in the post of CM as per the decision of the party, he said, "Both of us have come to an agreement, the high command has got us to an understanding, as per that both of us have discussed and have said several times that we will abide by it and go ahead."
Shivakumar, however, chose not to answer a question, whether there will be a change in the chief minister post or not.
To a question on talks about CM change, he said, "It is you (media) who is talking about it, there is no discussion among us. We will abide by what the party says."
The Deputy CM was on a visit to various temples in the Uttara Kannada district on Friday.
To a question linking his visit to the goddess Jagadeeshwari temple in Uttara Kannada district's Ankola, to his chief ministerial ambitions, Shivakumar said, "I don't want to talk about it, it is between me and the mother goddess. It is between the devotee and the deity. What I have prayed to the goddess and what she told me is between us."
He said, five years ago he had come to the temple regarding some issue concerning his family and his wish was fulfilled. "So I'm visiting the temple as a mark of gratitude and to seek blessings for me, the state and the people who believe in me. I'm going back happily."
