Mary Kom has found herself at the centre of a social media controversy after a remark she made while discussing Indian women athletes with fellow Bigg Boss 20 contestant Qazi Touqeer. The boxing champion was speaking about her achievements in sport when her comment was perceived by some viewers as a comparison with other accomplished female athletes.
During the conversation, Qazi spoke about Indian women who have made a mark in sports and mentioned tennis star Sania Mirza and badminton player Saina Nehwal. Before he could continue, Mary interrupted and said, “Lekin mere jaisa koi achieve nahi kiya,” which translates to, “But no one achieved what I did.” The remark soon went viral, with several viewers feeling that it came across as dismissive of the achievements of other Indian women athletes.
Following the criticism, Team Mary Kom took to social media to issue a clarification and apologise if the boxer’s words were misunderstood. The team stressed that there was no intention to demean another athlete or compare their respective journeys.
“We apologise if Mary’s words were misunderstood. There was never any intention to demean or compare the journey with that of another athlete. Mary has immense respect for every athlete who represents India and gives their heart and soul to the sport.
Every journey is unique, every achievement matters, and every medal makes India proud.
-Team Mary”
Mary Kom is one of India’s most decorated boxers. She is a six-time world champion and won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal. She has also won gold at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games during her illustrious career.
The controversy comes during Mary’s ongoing stint on Bigg Boss 20, where the boxing champion has been making headlines for her conversations and interactions with fellow contestants.
