Tokyo 2020: Mary Kom Furious After Pre Quarter Final Loss, Questions ‘Poor Judging’

Tokyo: The six-time Boxing World Champion Mary Kom was defeated in a controversial split verdict. Mary slammed the International Olympic Committee’s Boxing Task Force.  She was competing in her flyweight (51kg) pre-quarterfinal of Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

Mary Kom said that “this is too much what they have done,” after losing to Ingrit Valencia. The 38-year old boxer lost her pre quarter-final bout to Ingrit Valencia of Columbia who is ranked 8th as per AIBA. 

“I don’t know and understand this decision, what’s wrong with the Task Force? What’s wrong with the IOC?” she told  PTI after the match. 

“I was also a member of the Task Force. I was even giving them suggestions and supporting them in ensuring a clean competition. But what have they done with me?” she said.

Magnificent @MangteC goes down to Ingrit Valencia of Colombia in the pre quarters in a split decision 2-3 loss. We know it’s heartbreaking but we know how hard she tried. The whole nation saw it.

We wish you the best Mary, ALWAYS!

— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 29, 2021

Mary Kom had won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics and was aiming for her second medal. 

“I was happy inside the ring, when I came out, I was happy because in my mind I knew I had won. When they took me for doping, I was still happy. Only when I saw the social media and my coach (Chhote Lal Yadav repeated it to me), it sunk in that I have lost,” she said.

Mary wasn’t able to believe that she had lost the match. In boxing, the results depend on the decision of five judges. There was a split vote in the third round, due to which she lost as per the total points. 

“I had beaten this girl twice in the past. I couldn’t believe that her hand was raised by the referee. I swear, it hadn’t struck me that I lost, I was so sure,” she added.

“The worst part is that there is no review or protest. Honestly, I am sure the world must have seen, this is too much what they have done,” she said.

“I should have got the second round unanimously, how was it 3-2? What happened was totally unpredictable,” she reasoned.