Mary Kom's team apologises after Bigg Boss remark on women athletes draws backlash
Olympic bronze medallist and six-time world champion Mary Kom's team has issued an apology after a comment by the boxing legend on Bigg Boss 20 drew criticism on social media, with viewers accusing her of appearing to belittle the achievements of other Indian women athletes.
The controversy arose during a conversation between Mary Kom and fellow contestant Qazi Touqeer about Indian women who have made their mark in sport. Touqeer mentioned tennis star Sania Mirza and badminton player Saina Nehwal before Kom responded with a remark that drew attention online.
"Hamare yahan sports mein kaun kaun ladki ne kamal kiya hai, Sania Mirza also did great, Sania Nehwal," he said. Before Touqeer could continue, Kom intervened with, "Lekin mere jaisa koi achieve nahi kiya," meaning, "But no one achieved what I did."
A clip of the exchange subsequently spread across social media, with several viewers taking issue with how the statement came across. Some felt Touqeer was simply acknowledging the achievements of multiple Indian sporting icons, while Kom's response appeared to turn the conversation into a comparison.
The criticism prompted Team Mary Kom to address the issue through her official account. The team said her words were not intended to undermine another athlete or diminish anyone else's accomplishments. "We apologise if Mary's words were misunderstood. There was never any intention to demean or compare the journey with that of another athlete. Mary has immense respect for every athlete who represents India and gives their heart and soul to the sport," the statement read.
The team also emphasised that achievements across different sports deserve equal recognition.
"Every journey is unique, every achievement matters, and every medal makes India proud," it added.
Kom's record in boxing is among the most decorated in Indian sport. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal.
She claimed six World Championship titles in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018, besides winning a silver medal in 2001 and a bronze in 2019.
The Manipur-born boxer also won Asian Games gold in 2014, having previously taken bronze in 2010, and added a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018.
At the Asian Championships, Kom won five gold and two silver medals between 2003 and 2021, further underlining her dominance in the sport.
Kom is one of only two boxers, male or female, to have won six World Championship titles and was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal.
The *Bigg Boss 20* controversy comes as Kom considers her next move in boxing. Earlier this year, she revealed that she was weighing a switch to professional boxing after age restrictions ended her eligibility to compete in amateur boxing for India.
Speaking about the possibility in March, Kom reflected on the highlights of her career and said professional boxing could give her another opportunity to compete.
"What can I say about the high points? Winning six World Championships was incredible. Although I reached a stage where age restrictions prevented me from competing further in amateur boxing for the country, a new opportunity has surfaced in Professional Boxing," she said.
Kom added that she was taking time to consider the move while continuing to work towards a comeback.
"I am currently taking some time to consider it. I am working hard and trying to make a comeback to show people what I can still do," she said.- EndsPublished By: Saurabh KumarPublished On: Sep 13, 2026 17:50 IST
