Boxing legend and 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist M C Mary Kom has stepped down as Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent for the Paris Olympic Games, citing personal reasons. Mary Kom, appointed as the Chef de Mission of the Indian Contingent last month, wrote a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Dr PT Usha, asking to be relieved from her position as Chef-de-Mission of the Indian contingent. Indian Shooting Team Set To Begin Quest for Final Paris Olympic 2024 Quota in Pistol.
In her letter to the IOA President, Mary Kom said she was grateful to the Indian Olympic Association for placing its faith in her to serve as Chef de Mission in Paris 2024.
Mary Kom Tweet on Stepping Down as Chef-De-Mission of Indian Contingent
This is a huge honour and responsibility and i want to thank our legendary IOA president Ms. P.T.Usha and also my colleagues at the IOA for entrusting me with this responsibility. Together we look forward to support our athletes in every way possible for the best ever…
— M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) March 21, 2024
IOA chief acknowledged the receipt of a letter from MC Mary Kom, and said a replacement would be named after appropriate consultations.
"We are sad that Olympic medal-winning boxer and Chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission Mary Kom has stepped down citing personal reasons. We respect her decision and her privacy. I shall make the appropriate consultations and soon make an announcement about the replacement for Mary Kom," the IOA chief said.
"I completely understand her request and respect her decision. I have also conveyed to her that she will always have my own support and that of IOA. I also request everyone to respect the legendary boxer’s privacy," she added. Asian Wrestling Championships 2024: India’s Udit Wins Silver; Abhimanyou, Vicky Bag Bronze Medal.
The 41-year-old pugilist has represented the country in two editions of the Olympic Games (2016 Rio and 2020), winning bronze in the 2012 Games in London but missing out on a medal in the Tokyo Games.
Paris Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11 in the French capital.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 12, 2024 04:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).