Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Mary Kom – Fighting For Gold Medals

The 2012 Olympics is on, and the Indian sportspersons are working hard to turn out their best performances, and maybe bag a medal or two. Among them is little Mary Kom, a 5’2” boxer from Manipur, with the determination of a lion. Christened Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, she is also known as MC Mary Kom or Magnificant Mary. Mary Kom participated in Women’s Boxing, in the flyweight 51 kg category, and won a bronze medal.


Mary Kom – Meri Quam (My Country)

Here is a list of five things, you didn’t know about gold medal winning champion pugilist Mary Kom:

1. Her previous achievements: This Piscean (born on 1st March 1983) is a five-time World Boxing Champion, and the only female boxer to have collected a medal in each of the six boxing world championships. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Mary Kom was given the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) by the Manipur Government in 2010. She has also founded the MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy in Manipur to train other sportspersons, unlike the leading cricketers of our country who prefer to stick on to their spots in the team.

2. Her kids: Yes, Mary Kom is in fact married, and is the mother of five-year-old twin boys named Rechungvar and Khupneivar. She met her husband K Onler Kom in New Delhi, and married him at the Manipur Baptist Convention Church on 15th March 2005. After Mary Kom's children were born, she took a two year break from boxing; but returned to the ring in 2008, and won a gold medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship in China soon after.


3. Her schooling: Gold medallist Mary Kom attended three schools - Loktak Christian Model High School in Moirang (KG to 6th ), St. Xavier’s School in Moirang (7th to 8th), and Adimjati High School in Imphal (9th and 10th). She completed her schooling through NIOS open schooling, and later did her graduation from Churachandpur College. Mary Kom was always interested in sports in school, and dreamed of becoming an athlete.

4. Her inspiration: Well, it was the success of Dingko Singh at the 1998 Asian Games, which made her feel like becoming a professional boxer. Mary Kom was also impressed by the demonstration of women boxers at the 5th National Games in Manipur. She currently practices with three male boxers, who are taller and heavier than her, weighing in at 60kg, 57kg and 54kg. Mary Kom is also a big fan of heavyweight boxing champion Mohammad Ali.

5. Her parents: Mary Kom's father first learnt that she was a woman boxer when he saw her photograph printed in a local newspaper, after she won the Manipur State Women's Boxing Championship in 2000. Both her parents are farmers who work in the local jhum fields, and Mary Kom had initially hidden the fact that she was a boxer from them, because she feared that they would not approve. She has two younger sisters and a brother. Her mother has accompanied her to the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Where was Mary Kom at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi?

Well, Mary Kom carried the Queen’s Baton along with Vijender Singh at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. However, as women’s boxing was not included as a sport in the Commonwealth Games, Mary Kom could not display her boxing skills and win a medal.


Mary Kom won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Congratulations lady!

We  wish Mary Kom the Best of Luck for all her future boxing matches! We also hope that Mary Kom comes back with many gold medals in the future!

You Go Girl! Mary Da Quam India!

2 comments:

  1. It doesnt matter if Mary has lost.She has already done a great thing by reaching till this point in the tournament especially because she has fought against all odds. SHe lost to a very strong opponent and hats off to her for her achievement. We are proud of you.

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  2. Yes. .. indian hero... she has got lots already... n whole country knows her today. . N will never forget the example of what a women can do

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