Mary Kom Refuses to Shake Hands With Nikhat After Selection Bout

MC Mary Kom clinched a resounding 9-1 victory over Nikhat Zareen in the selection trials of the upcoming Olympic qualifiers, but it was marred with controversy as the legendary figure walked off without shaking hands with her opponent at the end of the bout at Indira Gandhi Stadium, in New Delhi.

“Why should I shake her hand? What is it to her? If she respects me then I will respect (her). If not, how can I respect? (She’s) talking too much in front of the media.”

MC Mary Kom, London Olympics bronze medallist

“She was telling me ‘she is my idol, she is my icon’. Then? This is how a humane behaviour? I don’t like such things,” the six-time world champion told reporters at the post-match press conference.

Zareen had alleged that the veteran refused to shake hands and had also used cuss words in the ring. However, Mary Kom refused to be dragged in the controversy.

“Don’t interview unnecessary questions. I don’t like (these things). How many times am I going to prove (my worth)? This is not the first time I have beaten (Nikhat Zareen). You people are eyewitnesses. I don’t like controversies. I’m only focusing for the upcoming big competitions and achieving medal for my country,” Mary Kom added.

After being nominated to be India’s representative at the Olympic qualifiers, the Boxing Federation of India held the selection trial owing to lack of transparency for the star boxer to be given the nod. Zareen had also been sidelined prior to the World Championships where no selection trial was held and Mary Kom was sent for the tournament.

“I was told by the two High Performance Directors Santiago Nieva and Raffaele Bergamasco that the selection would be done on the basis of our performances. I asked for an exemption based on that. You can ask them. I didn’t make that policy,” Mary Kom added. “If they are not consistent with the policy, it is not my fault. Will that also be held against me?. Once the trial was announced, did I say I won’t come? Then why was my name taken time and again?”

“I did not like how she behaved with me because when the decision was announced and I tried to hug her she did not hug me back. Being a junior I expect seniors to respect juniors too. But I don’t mind.”

Nikhat Zareen, Indian boxer

Although Nikhat tried to put up a brave face after the bout, she was clearly distraught with the manner in which things unfolded after the result was announced. “I think I performed better than the one at the India Open where I feel I was a bit short on confidence. But I dished out an all-out game today. It was a close bout and it could have gone either way but a 9-1 score isn’t something I feel should have happened,” she said.

BFI president Ajay Singh however distanced himself from the controversy saying given emotions run high in sports, such things happen but shouldn’t be viewed in isolation to judge Mary Kom. “Mary Kom is a great symbol of our sport. Sometimes her emotions can get the better of her. She showed how good she is. Emotions can get the better of her, but it cannot detract her greatness. We all need to be proud of her, you cannot say that she acted this way, so she is not great,” he said.

Singh, however, lauded Nikhat too saying she would only grow as the days go by. “We are delighted we have such bench strength. There can be emotion in sport, it can happen. Nikhat Zareen is a good pugilist, she would become a force to reckon with in the future, we have to work in the larger interest of the sport,” he said.