‘Politicians should not head sports bodies’

SHILLONG: Five-time World Amateur Boxing Champion MC Mary Kom has asserted that sports bodies and association in the country should be headed by sportspersons and not politicians.
Speaking to media persons here on the sidelines of her felicitation at NEHU on Tuesday, she appealed to the State government to create more sports infrastructure besides upgrading the existing ones to produce top athletes.
Stating that the country can achieve great heights in sports, especially boxing, she appealed for better sports infrastructure in the entire country for the benefit of athletes.
Without taking names, the boxer said that people are fighting for the chair but it’s the boxers who are suffering the most.
Mary Kom said her focus would be on sports since she is a Rajya Sabha MP.
Asked about the current trend in the county when winners are felicitated with cars and cash instead of developing proper sports infrastructure for athletes, she said it is a good idea and acts as an encouragement for them.
In her acceptance speech, the pugilist said she would “cherish” the degree forever and urged students to enjoy doing what they do and only then they would overcome the difficulties while following their dreams.
The pugilist from Manipur describes her trials for Rio Olympics as “unfortunate” and said things probably would have been in her favour had there been more competitions for women.
“I only got two chances to qualify. Male boxers get five to six chances, but even then many of them did not qualify,” she said expressing hope that things would change for better after the upcoming boxing federation elections.
The Rajya Sabha MP said she was disappointed with only two medals for the country at the recently concluded Rio Olympics and added “less awareness” in sports in the country was one of the reasons behind it. (With inputs from PTI)