Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 07 2009:
Reacting to the suspension of multiple times world boxing champion MC Mary Kom on disciplinary ground, Sports Minister N Biren said the matter would be examined before it is taken up with authorities concerned.
"We have nothing to do when officials suspend her for unsporting conduct and ranting officials or judges of a sports event.
We will never encourage or support any athlete when he or she is found indulging in an unsporting behaviour," said the Minister, himself a prominent footballer of yesterday.
Biren, however, conveyed that if any sort of favouritism or nepotism or unwanted politics on the issue as alleged by Mary Kom could be affirmed then there is no question of sitting idle or remaining as muted spectator.
While assuring 'we will act' to ensure the guilty officials or individuals are disciplined after properly ascertaining veracity of the case, the Minister also described discipline as the highest integral part in sports absence of which is certain to deface charm of sports and sporting activities.
meanwhile, Mary Kom's husband Onlear Kom quoted the champion pugilist as saying that one of the judges of the particular bout had developed a personal grudge with the boxer in the morning and that might be the main cause for her loss.
Insisting that boxers from the North Eastern States are being treated indifferently by the officials, Onlear also informed of Mary Kom's readiness to share video clippings of the said bout for public introspection to judge who the better boxer was.
On the otherhand, Senior Vice President of Indian Boxing Federation, Khoibi Salam opined that the judges' decision is always binding and final in any sports.
Incidentally, the Senior Vice President of Indian Boxing Federation is not attending the National women's boxing championship currently underway at Jamshedpur.