Contrary to earlier reports suggesting her retirement, six-time world champion and 2012 Olympic medallist Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom clarified on Thursday that she has not officially announced her retirement from boxing. Dismissing the rumors, the legendary boxer affirmed that she will personally address the media when she decides to retire.

In a statement, Mary Kom refuted claims of retirement stemming from her comments at a school event in Dibrugarh, where she discussed the age limit in the Olympics preventing her participation. The 41-year-old emphasized that she was at the event to motivate children and expressed her ongoing commitment to the sport.

“I still have a hunger to achieve in sports, but the age limit in the Olympics doesn’t allow me to participate, though I can carry on with my sport. I am still focusing on my fitness, and whenever I announce my retirement, I will inform everyone,” stated Mary Kom.

As the first female boxer to secure six world titles and a five-time Asian champion, Mary Kom holds a remarkable legacy. Her historic gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games marked a milestone for Indian female boxers. The bronze medal she earned at the London 2012 Olympic Games further solidified her standing in the boxing world.

After temporary breaks from the sport following the births of her twins and third child, Mary Kom made successful comebacks, securing titles at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010. In 2018, she added to her legacy by clinching her sixth world title with a decisive victory over Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota. With a total of eight world medals, Mary Kom remains a trailblazer in both male and female boxing history.