India to seek Olympic wildcard for Mary Kom

Mary Kom (51kg) had missed out on qualifying for the Olympics after bowing out in the second round of last month’s World Championships -- the second and final qualifying tournament for women for the Games. 

The 33-year-old was required to make at least the semifinals to be assured of an Olympic berth in the mega-event in Astana, Kazakhstan. 

“She has been a phenomenal athlete and looking at her overall contribution to the sport, we have decided to request for a wildcard for her. However, her application will be among the many that the International Boxing Association (AIBA) will examine before taking a final decision,” Chairman of the ad-hoc committee currently running boxing in India, Kishen Narsi, said. 

Mary Kom, who is called ‘Magnificent Mary’ by AIBA, is a five-time world champion besides being a bronze-medallist from the London Olympics. 

The multiple-time Asian champion could not get an Olympic quota place in either of the two qualifying events for women boxers and is keeping her fingers crossed for a wildcard. 

“Let’s see how it goes,” was Mary Kom’s brief response on the latest efforts being made to secure what would be her second and final Olympic appearance. The wildcards are basically Tripartite Commission Invitation Places, which are made available to all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participating in the Olympics. 

In the three Olympic categories of 51kg, 60kg and 75kg in women’s boxing, only one wildcard is available per division. Only one Indian boxer —Shiva Thapa — has so far qualified for the Olympic Games.