NEW DELHI - It’s been three-year wait for the four-time women’s world boxing champion M.C. Marykom to get nominated for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award. The Manipuri who was finally nominated for the country’s highest sporting award Monday, however, regrets it has come after so long.

“It’s been a long wait for me, I have been applying for the award from the past three years. Despite performing, I wasn’t even nominated. I regret that,” Marykom, an Arjuna Award winner and a Padmshree, said as a matter of fact.

The petite lady is nonetheless happy to be nominated.

“After winning my fourth world boxing championship, I visited the sports minister last year and he encouraged me a lot. I am quite relieved and happy today though officially I have not been informed about the nomination yet,” she told IANS.

When told along with her, Beijing Games bronze medallists, boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar also have been nominated and stand a chance to be adjudged the joint winners, Marykom was quick to say: “The things should go as per the rule. If the rule is that only one person can win the award, then it should be so, whether I win or someone else.”

The mother of twin boys, Marykom, who is an inspector in Manipur police, said if she wins she will dedicate the award to her husband and kids.

“My husband has been a big support throughout. I took just a year’s break after giving birth to my twins. Without them, I wouldn’t have reached so far. If I win, I will dedicate the awards to them. And I wish to do even better in the future.”