New Delhi : Lose 2kg in 4 hours. Sounds like the advert of an outlandish weight-loss regimen? No, this was the practical challenge that a jet-lagged M C Mary Kom was confronted with when she landed in Poland for a just-concluded boxing tournament — the one where she picked up her third gold of the year, adding to a seemingly count-less tally.

“We landed in Poland at round 3-3:30 in the morning and the general weigh-in was at around 7:30am. I was a couple of kilograms above 48kg, the category I compete in, at that point,” the five-time world champion, who is also an Olympic bronze-medallist, told PTI in an interview after her return to the country.

“So, I had roughly four hours to shed that or I would have been disqualified for being over-weight at the time of general weigh-in. But I did skipping for an hour at a stretch and just like that, I was ready,” said the 35-year-old, a colossus not just in Indian boxing but also internationally.

“Thankfully, the flight we travelled in was nearly empty so I could sleep with my legs outstretched, ensuring that I was not stiff on landing there. Otherwise, I don’t know how I would have been able to compete,” she recalled.

The diminutive Manipuri was the lone senior gold-winner for India at the tournament in Poland, a testimony to her incredible longevity and also a reflection of the lack of depth in Indian women’s boxing.

Mention that to her and the mother-of-three offers a lopsided grin and an answer that is solely focussed on what she has done right over the nearly two decades she has been around.

“I am never satisfied with how I perform, I am always looking to work out new strategies. I am obsessive but not overtly aggressive. I like to conserve in a bout. I always like to study my opponents and then dismantle them bit by bit,” she said.

And to ensure that the obsession doesn’t consume her, Mary Kom said she has been lucky to have her best friend for husband. “Onler is my rock. It is because of him that I can be this obsessive about my sport and it is because of him that I manage to never cross the unhealthy line when it comes to obsession,” she said as the man in question nodded thoughtfully with a faint smile on his face.

“Chilling” at her official residence in Delhi now, the Rajya Sabha MP savoured the little joys of life which sometimes take a back-seat because of her focus on boxing.

These include watching her three kids hop around and make their tutor’s job difficult, sharing jokes with the “rock” of her life and checking on the aches and pains that are sometimes ignored in pursuit of that next medal.

“She is hyperactive, always looking for something to do. She cannot sit idle even after coming from a long journey. Something is dusty, it needs to be cleaned right away, she does it herself, or else she would find something in kitchen. She gets her happiness in all this, that’s how she unwinds,” said Onler, who manages the administration of the couple’s boxing academy in Manipur.

Mary Kom is just a couple of months shy of turning 36 but said she isn’t going to slow down either at home or inside the ring. “No, the world championships in November is not my last. I am not going anywhere till the 2020 Olympics provided my body stays fit. I know my limitations but I also know my strengths. If there is any injury then I will see,” she said.

For an athlete who has achieved just about everything that is there to be achieved, Mary Kom also revealed what counts for failure in her book. “Not winning a gold, now that’s a failure for me,” she laughed when asked whether she can recall any debacles after an unprecedented five world and Asian titles, an Olympic bronze, Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals, and numerous other international and national medals.

“The world championship in two months in Delhi will be another test. I can only say that I will do my best, I never guarantee medals and I won’t do it now either. In a contact sport, it’s foolish to make big statements because actually you never know,” she said.

Individual failures, may be not, but the collective failure of Indian women’s boxing at the Asian Games in Jakarta last month sprung into the conversation yet again and this time Mary Kom was a shade more forthcoming.

“See, I did feel sad that we did not get any medals at the Asian Games. And my suggestion is that we focus on technique. It is not about going all aggressive from the first round itself. Girls should learn to conserve themselves and apply their mind more,” she opined.

Beyond this assessment, she preferred to keep the focus on her own game and the challenge of meeting the expectations of a sixth world title from her. “Boxing is my soul,” she declared even as her “rock” let out a small smile with a slight shake of the head.

“She carries her training gear all the time in the car. During Parliament session, she just runs from training to the house in morning, changing on the way, she is crazy,” said Onler.

“Funny how I am a part of all this now, I got interested only in 2001,” he added. “Yeah, the year, you got interested in me,” retorted Mary Kom, the sound of her laughter filling the room as the interview drew to a close.

courtesy : indianexpress.com

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Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.

Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.

The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.

Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.

A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.

He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.

Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.

The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.

The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.

However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.

Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.

Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.

The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.

Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.

What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.

He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.

Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.

The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.

"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.

However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.

The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.

Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.

"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.

Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.