'Left with no choice': Mary Kom steps down as Paris Olympics Chef-de-Mission over personal reasons

Mary Kom told IOA chief PT Usha that she wanted to be relieved off her duties.

With just months left for the Paris Olympics, six-time world champion boxer MC Mary Kom on Friday stepped down as India's chef-de-mission for the summer games, citing "personal reasons".

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President PT Usha announced that Mary Kom wanted to be relieved from her position.

In a letter addressed to the IOA chief, Mary Kom said that it is "embarrassing" for her to step down from the post but she was "left with no choice".

”I consider it an honour to serve my country in every way possible, and I was mentally prepared for it. However, I regret that I will not be able to uphold the prestigious responsibility and would like to resign, owing to personal reasons,” the 41-year-old said.

"It is embarrassing to retreat from a commitment, which I seldom do, but I am left with no choice. I am there to cheer on my country and the athletes competing in this Olympic Games, with great expectations,” she added.

The boxer's appointment was announced by India's olympic body on March 21.

The celebrated boxer, who is also a bronze-medallist from the 2012 London Olympics, was to be the logistical in-charge of the country’s contingent at the July 26-August 11 Games.

"We are sad that Olympic medal winning boxer and Chairperson of the IOA Athletes Commission Mary Kom has stepped down citing personal reasons. We respect her decision and her privacy,” Usha said in a statement.

She added that she will soon make an announcement about Mary Kom's replacement for the post, adding that she "completely respects her decision".

PT Usha also urged everyone to respect the celebrated boxer’s privacy.

Mary Kom has also won gold in the 2010 Asian Games besides being a multiple-time Asian champion. IOA has appointed six-time Winter Olympian and luger Shiva Keshavan as deputy chef-de-mission, while veteran table tennis player and reigning Commonwealth Games champion Sharath Kamal will be India’s male flag-bearer.

(With inputs from PTI)