M. C. Mary Kom resigned as the National Observer for Indian boxing. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore stated the role of National Observer was not for active sportspersons.
The five time World Champion said on Friday, “I resigned as national observer 10 days ago after having a word with Mr. Rathore. I had been requested to take up the position, it was not something I had asked for.”
Kom had questioned her appointment, “I had inquired about the rule on not having active athletes as observers with the then Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas when it was offered to me.”
She further explained her reasons for taking the role, “But at that time, I was told that I should nonetheless accept the position. I did so on insistence of the Ministry and I don’t want unnecessary controversies about something that I had not asked for.”
In March, the then Sports Minister Vijay Goel appointed Mary Kom along with 12 other sportspersons for the role of National Observers.
Among the selected, Olympic Gold Medalist shooter Abhinav Bindra, double Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar and former Commonwealth Games gold medalist Akhil Kumar were made National Observers.
