BOXING / Mary Kom defeats 23-year-old Nikhat Zareen, refuses to shake hands with her

Six-time world boxing champion Mary Kom defeated 23-year-old Nikhat Zareen in the 51-kg category trial bout to qualify for Olympic qualifiers in China. The 36-year-old refused to shake hands with Nikhat. "Why should I shake hands with her? If she wants others to respect her then she should first respect others. I don't like people with such nature," Kom said.

NDTV : Dec 28, 2019, 03:36 PM

Mary Kom booked her berth in the Indian team for the 2020 Olympic qualifiers slated to be held in Wuhan, China after getting the better of Nikhat Zareen in the final of 51kg women's boxing trial on Saturday. There was a lot of spotlight going into the Mary Kom vs Nikhat Zareen women's boxing trials bout after the latter made a public demand for a fair Olympic selection trial. In the final, Mary Kom came out trumps, winning the bout by a split 9-1 verdict. However, video of Mary Kom's reaction after the bout started doing the rounds on Twitter, where the six-time world champion can be seen marching past her opponent and not shaking her hands.

After the bout, Mary Kom revealed why she didn't shake hands with Nikhat Zareen.

Mary Kom on not shaking hands with Nikhat Zareen after the bout: Why should I shake hands with her? If she want others to respect her then she should first respect others. I don't like people with such nature.Just prove your point inside the ring,not outside. https://t.co/TERXuRECMh pic.twitter.com/vwqSvSmgN3
— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2019

"Why should I shake hands with her? If she want others to respect her then she should first respect others. I don't like people with such nature. Just prove your point inside the ring, not outside," she was quoted as saying by ANI.

On the other hand, Nikhat Zareen said she was hurt by Mary Kom's behaviour and accused her of using "foul language" inside the ring.

According to a report in news agency PTI, a few representatives from from Nikhat Zareen's home state Telangana's boxing association cried foul once the result was declared. Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh had to step in to control the situation after AP Reddy, claiming to represent the Telangana Boxing Association vociferously protested the decision.

"How will boxing grow amid this kind of politics," he later told reporters after being asked to leave the ringside by Ajay Singh and pacified by a disappointed Zareen herself.

Meanwhile, in other results, two-time world silver-medallist Sonia Lather (57kg) lost to Sakshi Chaudhary while in the 60kg category, former world champion L Sarita Devi was defeated by to national champion Simranjit Kaur.

Also making the India squad for next year's Olympic qualifiers was Lovlina Borgohain, who beat Lalita in the 69kg final.