Bangalore: Ace woman boxer Mary Kom on Wednesday said she would consider offers received to open boxing academies in Bangalore, Gurgaon near Delhi and Guwahati but she would take it up only after her pet project, a similar boxing academy in progress in Imphal, was completed.
Speaking to reporters at a function organised by Rotary Bangalore IT corridor to announce Bangalore Midnight Marathan to be held on December 20, Kom said currently work on her Academy was going on at a brisk pace with student’s hostels being built.
She said Manipur Government had given her 3.3 acres of land for the Academy while the Centre had also funded through NSDF to bring up physical infrastructure.
Though conceived in 2007 the academy had seen slow progress but fresh infusion of funds, the work was going on now. “I am ready to explore offers in other States and will do it after the Imphal facility is completed. I received overwhelming response for setting up this Academy and it will train young boxers from poor families who cannot afford high level training. They will be provided with all facilities including their stay and food,” she said.
The 31-year-old boxer reiterated that Rio Olympics in 2016 was her ‘last destiny’ as she wanted to win a gold in boxing.
Kom, who joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi in taking forward ‘Swatch Bharat’ campaign, said she was fully impressed of Mr Modi’s commitment and his words that Indian sportspersons will fully backing of the government was overwhelming.
Kom said she had received huge incentives from the government after achieving laurels for the country and it was time she spent it on training the young boxers.
She said working mothers, be they in any field or housewives, all mothers could achieve something on their own. (UNI)