By K. Datta, IANS
New Delhi : The boxing community could not have missed noting that M.C. Mary Kom, the three-time world women's 46kg champion, was absent from the Federation Cup tournament held recently at Chennai.
The 25-year-old from Manipur, a contender for this year's Rajiv Khel Ratna award, is pregnant.
Mary Kom told IANS from Manipur that she expects the baby sometime in mid-September.
Giggling with the all shyness of a girl expecting her first baby, she said she was not sure if the child would grow up to be a boxing champ like her mother. "Let's see," she said.
Promoted to inspector in Manipur Police after her world title in New Delhi last November, she has been thoughtfully spared tough duties by her bosses. So she is taking it easy under the loving care of her mother.
"After my baby, I will gradually get back into training," Mary Kom said of her future plans. "Dheerey dheerey se main phir khelna shuru karoongi. (I will start slowly boxing once again.)"
If she puts on a few extra kilos, as she might well do after the baby's arrival, then "I'll go up to the 48kg category."
But who'll care for the baby?
"No problem. Baby ki dekhbhaal ke liye bahut log hai. (There are many people in the family to look after the baby)," said Mary Kom, who has three siblings besides, of course, her mother.
And what of the little girl boxers of the neighbourhood, as one is aware, who turn up at her place for training?
"They know I have to take it easy so they are off training these days. Also, the rains keep them indoors mostly."
Mary Kom's fans hope the baby will bring her even more luck and honours in her boxing career, including the Rajiv Khel Ratna.