New Delhi, March 1: Boxing was once considered a male-dominated sport. However, Indian boxing icon Mary Kom has changed that perception. A six-time world champion, Mary Kom has achieved every significant milestone a player dreams of. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics and secured gold medals at both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.
Born on November 24, 1982, in the village of Kangthei in Churachandpur district, Manipur, Mary Kom grew up in poverty as her father was a farmer. She worked in the fields alongside her parents while also taking care of her siblings. Her inspiration to dominate the boxing world came in 1998 from Dingko Singh, who won a gold medal at the Asian Games that year.
From that moment, Mary Kom decided to conquer the boxing ring. However, the journey was not easy. She faced financial constraints for proper nutrition and lacked family support, as her father did not want her to pursue boxing. Despite this, Mary Kom was driven by an unrelenting passion to succeed.
Despite the lack of basic facilities, she quickly made a name for herself in boxing. In 2005, she married Onler Kom, who supported her at every step. Just as her career was soaring, the birth of twins in 2007 caused a temporary halt. Nevertheless, she made a remarkable comeback at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze medal.
Mary Kom holds the record for winning gold medals at the Women’s World Championships six times, making her the only boxer to achieve this feat. She also clinched gold at the Asian Games in 2014 and the Commonwealth Games in 2018. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 2006 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009.
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