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BFI should consider doing away with selection trials for performers: Mary Kom

By The Assam Tribune

NEW DELHI, Aug 21: Celebrated Indian boxer MC Mary Kom on Wednesday said proven performers should not be made to undergo selection trials and asserted that she did no wrong by seeking an exemption from the ones for the world championships.

A controversy broke out over Mary�s selection for the women�s World Boxing Championships in Russia after her competitor in the 51kg category, Nikhat Zareen, was refused a trial bout. Zareen, in a letter to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), alleged that she was stopped from competing despite having a scheduled trial bout.

Mary Kom, a six-time world champion and an Olympic bronze-medallist, was chosen by the BFI selection panel based on her gold medal-winning performances at the India Open and a subsequent tournament in Indonesia.

�Maybe, the BFI can change the programme altogether, no trial for boxers who are performing well, they can directly get the quota for any championship or tournament,� Mary told reporters on the sidelines of an event arranged by the All India Gaming Federation.

The world championship is scheduled to be held in Russia in September-October.

�You look at other games like badminton, who gives trials? Did Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu give any trial?� she added. � PTI

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