‘I do think of quitting’

She has pulled herself up for a second time targetting another first for an Indian woman boxer but as Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom gears up for the Commonwealth Games, the five-time world champion says the thought of quitting has crossed her mind several times.

Speaking ahead of the trials for the Commonwealth Games, the mother of three from Manipur, who was christened ‘Magnificent Mary’ by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), spoke about her career and future.

‘I do think of quitting and one day I have to retire. But I have still not fulfilled some of my aims,’ Mary Kom, who competes in the 51kg category, said.

‘I always wanted a gold in the Olympics and I want to achieve that. But I do think that it would boil down to my performance. If it slips than I will not continue. I am setting short term goals. Only if I feel I am upto it, I would go,’ said the 31-year-old.

She is back in the ring after a one-year sabbatical following the birth of her third child and the Manipuri has no hesitation in admitting that it is difficult to stage comebacks.

‘I have been training for one month. It was tough to pull myself up but then I could tell myself that I can pull myself up. I have always motivated myself to toughen up,’ she said candidly.

Mary Kom last took a sabbatical in 2008 after winning her third world title and came back quite brilliantly to clinch her fourth gold medal at the mega-event.

‘It hurts when people question my ability after every break. I feel very bad. If I feel I am not good enough, I will myself quit. I don’t need to be told. This hurts,’ she said.