New Delhi: Six-time world champion M C Mary Kom (51kg category) defeated Nikhat Zareen in an intense trial bout here on Saturday to make the Indian team for next year's Olympic qualifiers in China.
After the intense trial, when Mary Kom was aksed about not shaking hands with Nikhat Zareen, she said, "Why should I shake hands with her? 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."
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Mary Kom: I will respect #Nikhat if she respects me. #boxing #Olympics pic.twitter.com/RVvw2e1KRt
— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) December 28, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Mary Kom: I will respect #Nikhat if she respects me. #boxing #Olympics pic.twitter.com/RVvw2e1KRt
— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) December 28, 2019Mary Kom: I will respect #Nikhat if she respects me. #boxing #Olympics pic.twitter.com/RVvw2e1KRt
— Karishma Singh (@karishmasingh22) December 28, 2019
"I was a bit angry. There is no doubt. But it's all done now. I have moved on. All I say is that talk once you perform not before that. Everyone can see what you do in the ring," Mary Kom said.
Mary Kom did not respond to Zareen's attempt at hugging her after the bout.
Also Read: Women's Boxing Olympic trials: Mary Kom silences Nikhat Zareen
"They call it clinching in our sport," was her sharp retort on being asked about it.
"I am hurt by how she behaved. She used some foul language inside the ring too, but it's ok," said Zareen.
Also Read: Mary Kom refuses to shake hands with Nikhat Zareen after bout
Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh had to step in to control the situation after AP Reddy, claiming to represent the Telangana Boxing Association vociferously protested the decision.
"How will boxing grow amid this kind of politics," Reddy later told reporters after being asked to leave the ringside by Singh and pacified by a disappointed Zareen herself.
Bitterness dominated the buildup to the bout after it was insinuated that the onus was on Mary Kom to agree for the trial even though it was a call that the federation had to take.
Mary Kom was visibly pumped up at the end of the bout in which she impressed with her composure.
