World Champ Mary Kom suspended from boxing

Jamshedpur: Four-time world champion M C Mary Kom was today suspended till October 27 for "unsporting

behaviour" after her quarter-final loss in the Women`s National Boxing Championship here. Mary Kom, who was representing the All India Police Board (AIPB) at the domestic meet, lost her cool after losing to Pinky Jingra (Haryana) in the quarter-final of the 10th edition of the meet at the J R D Tata Sports complex here today. Rakesh Thakran, Coordinator of IBF, said the decision to suspend Kom, temporarily till October 27, was taken by a nine-member jury panel headed by N S Kichi, Vice-President of IBF. The issue will be taken up at the annual general meeting of IBF to be held at Hyderabad on October 27. "Being a senior player, Kom should have taken the defeat sportingly but her behaviour was uncalled for," Boidar said. Kom and L Sarita Devi (AIPB) who lost to Sunita Yadav of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) in the pre-quarterfinal round in the 54 kgs weight category last night, alleged that "regional discrimination" and a planned conspiracy by a certain lobby in the IBF led to their defeat. "The pugilists, both men and women from North-East, are being treated indifferently by a section of IBF officials," they told newsmen. Kom said while she did not lodge any written complaint in this regard, she will take up the matter with the General Secretary of IBF P K M Raja, who will be in the steel city tomorrow. Bureau Report