Mary Kom questions protest rule at Worlds

Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom on Tuesday questioned the rationale behind the rule which did not allow her to lodge a protest after her semifinal loss in the recent World Championships.

"Our protest was not considered as it was a 1-4 verdict. I don't know what this rule is, that you cannot file an appeal if it is 1-4," Mary Kom said on the sidelines of a felicitation function by the Sports Ministry.

"If deserving winners are made to lose, it does not do any good to the sport," said the 36-year-old who won her maiden 51kg medal, a bronze, in the just-concluded World Championships in Russia.

After Mary Kom lost her semifinals bout 1-4 to Busenaz Cakiroglu of Turkey, India lodged a protest but it was turned down by the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) technical committee.

The rules mandate that the decision has to be either 3-2 or 3-1 for an appeal to be even accepted for consideration.

Asked if there was any bias against her in the decision, she said, "Of course, there was something fishy but I don't know what exactly is that."
Manju's category is not included in the Tokyo Olympics and she said she "will jump weight if 48kg is not there in the 2024 Olympics."
"I took up to boxing and my uncle became my coach. He does not know much about boxing and he had to learn himself first before teaching me."