Fact Check: Did Mary Kom Announce Retirement From Boxing?

Boxer Mary Kom quashed earlier media reports which claimed that she had announced retirement, clarifying that her speech had been misquoted. The 41-year-old athlete had said at a school event she would not be able to participate in the Olympics anymore due to the age limit; however, reports flooded social media, claiming that she had quit the sport for good. Speaking to Asian News International, Kom said, "I am still focusing on my fitness and whenever I will announce retirement I will inform everyone."

Boxing champion Mary Kom says, "I haven’t announced retirement yet and I have been misquoted. I will personally come in front of media whenever I want to announce it. I have gone through some media reports stating that I have announced retirement and this is not true. I was… pic.twitter.com/VxAcFsq44v

— ANI (@ANI) January 25, 2024

Kom urged her supporters to believe the news about her retirement only when she announced it herself. The boxing champion from Manipur has an illustrious career spanning over two decades, where she has won the nation many laurels.

Mary Kom Is Not Retiring

Mary Kom announced at a school event in Dibrugarh that she was past the age limit to qualify for the Olympics but would represent the nation in other games. Denying retirement rumours, Kom stated that she would carry on with the sport and continue motivating young athletes.

Kom, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, has not been active in boxing since her pre-quarterfinal loss in the Tokyo Olympics, which was her last appearance at the quadrennial game. This sparked rumours that she was set to hang up her boxing gloves for good. However, Kom asserted that she still has a hunger for the sport.

Mary Kom is one of the most decorated sportspersons of India. She made her public debut in the first world meet in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She has won India a glorious bronze medal in the 2012 Olympics in London. She also holds several gold medals in World Championships and Asian Games.

Kom is the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships. The Manipuri athlete also holds the title of the first female boxer in the world to have won six world titles. She has written an autobiography called Unbreakable and also has an eponymous biopic depicting her life and career.