State government to fulfill promises made to Mary Kom long ago

Diminutive police officer M C Mary Kom is to be feted by the Manipur state government and also given a piece of land for setting up a boxing academy for her feat of ensuring a medal at the Olympic Games in London.

The five-time world champion had been promised a promotion and land by the state government after she became a world champion for the fourth time in 2010, but the promise was not fulfilled.

"She was promised that she would be promoted to the Additional ASP's post in Manipur Police, besides a two acre piece of land for her academy. Two years have passed since the procedures were started by the state government and now they say that they would club it with her Olympic medal," Mary's husband Onler Kom told PTI from London.

"Mary doesn't even know about this move by the government but if this is the case, we don't want any incentive.

"It is unfair that a promise made two years ago is fulfilled by clubbing it with an altogether new achievement that has its own significance," he added.

The 29-year-old became only the third Indian woman ever to ensure an Olympic medal after reaching the semifinals of the 51kg weight category in London on Monday.

Mary was India's lone flag bearer as women's boxing made its Olympic debut in London.