New Delhi, India, December 29, 2019: Six-time world champion Mary Kom (51kg category) underlined her credentials in the Indian boxing squad for next year’s Olympic qualifiers by defeating outspoken rival and young gun Nikhat Zareen in a trial bout.
Mary Kom had the last laugh in the much-anticipated trial bout as she dominated Zareen, an Asian Championships bronze medallist, to easily win the flyweight final 9-1.
There was a lot of spotlight over this bout owing to the controversy raised by Zareen who had questioned Kom’s eligibility to be picked directly for the Olympic qualifiers in Wuhan, China from February 3-14.
The 36-year-old Kom proved herself in the ring as she punched her way to a one-sided victory. The icon of Indian boxing then refused to shake hands with Zareen, who had earlier demanded a trial against Kom in a letter sent to the country’s Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju in October.
“Why should I shake hands with her,” Kom queried. “If she wants others to respect her then she should first respect others. I don’t like people with such nature. Just prove your point inside the ring, not outside it.”
Source: India Today