Mary Kom upset with facilities at Nationals

Four-time world champion women boxer MC Mary Kom is miffed at the poor accommodation provided by the organisers of the ongoing 10th Senior Women's National Boxing championship at J R D Tata sports complex in Jamshedpur.

"It is really upsetting. I am really shocked at the treatment particularly since I was recently honoured with country's highest sports award, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna," the 27-year-old pugilist from Manipur said on Saturday.

Mary Kom sounded bitter when asked if she had lodged any written complaint with the organisers.

"Why should I? They (organisers) should rather understand and make arrangements accordingly," she said.

Despite winning laurels for the country at the international level consistently, I am being treated on par with juniors," Mary Kom, representing All India Police Board (AIPB) at the Nationals, quipped.

Mary Kom and other medal winning international pugilists were accommodated in the residential wing of the J R D Tata Sports Complex along with all other boxers and officials participating in the Championships.

She, however, said the issue would not hamper her performance in the Championships.

When asked to comment about Mary Kom's outburst, the organisers said the arrangements for accommodation were made in consultation with the officials of the Indian Boxing Federation as well as the team managers.

"We are ready with better accommodation if the officials of IBF and respective team managers wish so," captain Amitabh, head of the Tats Steel (sports) said.

"We strictly followed the guidelines of the IBF and team officials, who wanted the entire team and officials to be put under one roof," he said.

Rakesh Thakran, co-ordinator of Indian Boxing Federation, said as per IBF norm, all players should be given equal treatment whether she was a player of international repute or a newcomer.

"We cannot break our protocol and provide special treatment to a player irrespective of her achievements," he said.