Rio Olympics will be my last: M C Mary Kom

The five- time World Amateur Boxing champion said, “I have decided beforehand, this will be my last Olympic. I don’t know whether you people are aware of it or not. Actually being a girl, a woman and a mother, continuing for many years is not good for our health.”

Mary said her preparation for the Olympics is 'going very well' and she wants to perform well in the upcoming competitions.

“My preparation is going very well and I’m doing better and better for the last many years and I just want to do better in the upcoming competitions," she said in Kolkata.

Often dubbed as ‘Magnificent Mary’, Kom expressed her desire of grooming new talents in future.

She said, “I want to do some social works in future. I am opening my own boxing academy and also I want to groom many more champions from India after my retirement.”

When asked about the state of safety of women in India, the boxer said, “I do get sad seeing such things (violence against women) and I feel boxing and other forms of martial arts should be made a part of our school curriculum.”

On Vijender Singh’s decision to turn pro, she said, “We all know that it is not my decision, It is  Vijender's decision and I think it is better to ask him."

Earlier in the day Kom appeared in Vyom 2015, the annual felicitation ceremony of Aakash Institute.

While handing over the prizes to the winners, she said, “Every student has a dream, and so does their parents. My message is please do not stop dreaming, work hard and make things happen. I’m sure one day you will succeed. Success is in our hands; you go and get your dream.”

(Reporting by Sudipto Maity)