We also want to represent India at world stage, says Pinki Jangra
Pinki Jangra has backed Nikhat Zareen’s demand of having a fair trial and said that all the boxers want to play for the country at the world stage. Jangra also said that if she has defeated Mary Kom once in competitive events then there is no reason why she will not be able to do that again.
After Nikhat Zareen demanded for a fair trial for the Olympics, another Indian female boxer Pinki Jangra has come in support of Zareen. Jangra has asked for a competition among the boxers so that it will be fair to decide who gets a chance to play for the country in global events like the Olympics and the World Championships.
“We also have the same goal as qualifying for the Olympics just like Mary Kom. We also want to represent India at the world stage but for that we need an opportunity first,” Jangra told IANS.
“On Thursday, I came to know that Mary Kom would not be competing in the trials and will be directly sent to the qualifiers. This is not right. The same thing happened before the World Championships. We had then also raised our concerns but we were told that rules are different for different tournaments and that trials would be conducted for qualifiers.”
The Boxing Federation of India had earlier decided that the only gold and silver medallists from the World Championships would be directly selected for the Olympic qualifiers. However, Mary Kom managed to win only a bronze medal in the 51 kg weighty category at the World Championships as she bowed out from the semi-finals.
“What are we doing here? We have also come into the camp as national champions. I had defeated Mary Kom in the trials before 2014 Commonwealth Games. Then there’s no reason why I cannot defeat her again. I know she is a legend and I have huge respect for her. But if she is a legend, then why is she not competing in trials? We will feel satisfied if she defeats us and goes to the Qualifiers,” questioned Jangra.
