MC Mary Kom, a six-time world champion, has withdrawn from the upcoming Commonwealth Games Women's Boxing Trials for 2022 owing to an injury she sustained on Friday (June 10) in New Delhi. Mary Kom, the London Olympic bronze medalist, injured her knee during the 48kg match against Nitu. When she was injured in the first minute of the first round, the tough pugilist returned to the ring to resume the fight after obtaining medical attention. However, Mary Kom was still in excruciating pain, which forced her to exit the ring at the end of the first round, when the referee called a halt to the fight and pronounced Nitu the winner by RSCI judgement. Mary Kom's bid for a berth in the Birmingham Games came to an end with this.
The multiple Asian gold medalist had most recently competed in the Tokyo Olympics, where she advanced to the pre-quarterfinals before losing in a heartbreaking setback. Mary Kom, India's most decorated boxer, had planned to skip the World Championships, which ended last month, and the now-cancelled Asian Games in order to focus on the CWG, which will take place in Birmingham next month.
At the Indira Gandhi International Stadium, Nitu, a two-time previous youth world champion, went to the final of the CWG trials in the minimum weight division.
The Haryana fighter, who won gold on her debut at the famous Stradja Memorial event earlier this year, will now compete for a slot in the CWG against Manju Rani.
Nitu, who competed for India in the 48kg category at the World Championships, is now in line for a CWG spot in the category.
This might also be the end of Mary's brilliant career, as she will turn 40 next year and may be ruled out if her injury concerns are realised. She has already set a big fitness bar by continuing to test her skills in the ring at the age of 39. Will Mary come back? The only way to know is to wait and see.
