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 ad-hoc committee looking after boxing affairs in the country will write to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) requesting it to grant a wild card entry to five-time World champion and London Olympics bronze medallist M.C. Mary Kom for the Rio Olympics.

Since Mary Kom could not make it to the Olympics through the qualification tournaments, the ad-hoc committee decided to push for a wild card place for the legendary boxer.

“Mary Kom's contribution to Indian and world boxing is tremendous. The AIBA has recognised her contribution in popularising boxing. She was one of the brand ambassadors of the World championship. So we felt for the hard work she has put in in the last 15-16 years it would be a nice gesture to give her a good farewell as she said in the past that this would be her last Olympics,” said ad-hoc committee chairman Kishen Narsi.

Since all the Olympic qualification events for women have ended, the AIBA will now fill the remaining one vacancy in women's 51kg as a tripartite commission invitation place. Besides, the AIBA will examine whether any unused quota place is available for reallocation.

Even though Narsi did not give any specific timeframe as to when the AIBA could take a decision on this, it is expected that the world governing body would confirm the entries after the conclusion of the final Olympic qualifying event this month.