Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom hangs up boxing gloves and draws the curtains on her illustrious career

Dibrugarh: Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom has been forced to draw the curtains on her illustrious career as International Boxing Association (IBA) rules only allow boxers (male or female) to fight at the top level until the age of 40. Mary Kom is currently 41. Despite her age, Mary Kom still has the hunger to fight at the highest level, but with the IBA rules in between, the legendary boxer had no choice but to quit.

“I'm still hungry, but unfortunately I can't participate in any competition due to the age limit. I want to play more, but I'm forced to stop (because of the age limit). I have to retire. I have achieved everything in my life,” Mary Kom said at an event.

Mary Kom, a bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, is the only female boxer in history to win six world titles. She is also a five-time Asian champion and the first female boxer from India to win a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games.

Mary Kom came into the spotlight at the age of 18 and impressed everyone with her show at the first world meeting in Scranton, Pennsylvania. With her near-flawless boxing style, Mary Kom stormed into the final of the women's 48kg category but failed to win the title. In the following years, Mary Kom became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.

She went on to win the World Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008 and the 2010 editions. After winning the 2008 title, Mary took a break following the birth of her twins. After winning the 2012 Olympic medal, Mary took another break after the birth of her third child.

Marking her return, she sealed her place at the top of the 2018 World Championships held in Delhi. She dominated with a 5-0 win over Ukraine's Hanna Okhota for her sixth world title. A year later, she won her eighth world medal, the most of any male or female boxer.

With ANI inputs