Fabulous Personalities- 3

[M.C.MARY KOM]
Dr.Sundar Ram MBBS., MD

Boxing is a sport generally considered masculine by social standards.In a male dominant society like ours,it is tough for a woman to even pursue a career in such sport leave alone success.But winners are always the ones who fight against all odds and emerge triumphant.One such indian pugilist who has defeated all obstacles and become successful in the history of women boxing is Mangte Chungneijang Mary,fondly revered as Magnificient Mary.

CHILDHOOD AND EARLY LIFE

       Mary Kom was the eldest of three siblings born to Tonpa Kom and Akham Kom,on March 1 1983, who were jhum field labourers is Kangthei,Manipur.Manipur being a strife-torn state,she grew in the midst of famine and poverty.She being the eldest child of the family,helped her parents in making charcoal,fishing,cutting woods and babysitting her siblings.Since her childhood, she took a keen interest in atheletics.In 1998,Manipuri boxer
Dinka Singh won a gold medal at the Bangkok Asian games which inspired to pursue boxing.Initially she thought of it as a way to dissipate the poverty of her family.When she was 15,she took the all important decision to leave her hometown to study at Sports academy, Imphal against her parents wish especially her father who was an ex-wrestler.He had to leave his passion and resorted to farming due to economic conditions.He was against his pupil’s decision because of the fact that he considered the sport unwomanly.Despite all resistances and challenging circumstances,Mary was resilient and succeeded in following her passion.

INITIAL SUCCESS

– Her first coach Kosana Meitel identified her as a hardworking and strong willed girl with a huge passion for boxing.On sensing the burning desire of Mary Kom,the state coach Narjith singh decided to take her under his aegis and train her for greater good.He instantly knew that she had exuberant potential to make a name for herself and the country in the boxing arena.

– Soon she participated in the state boxing championship in 2000 and won the gold medal.This victory brought faith and belief to herself and her family .With their support,she set out to conquer the world.”When the going gets tough,the tough get going”.

BOXING CAREER

  • Mary Kom won a total of five national championships from 2000-2005.She first won the AIBA world boxing championship in 2002 and then four successive titles between 2005-2010.
  • In 2008,she came back from the maternity sabbatical and won a silver medal in Asian’s women boxing championship and in 2010 bettered her own record at Asian championships by grabbing the gold.
  • In the form of her life,she faced a big dilemma going into the 2012 London Olympics.She had to compete in the 51kg category because of Olympic governing body rules to conduct only 3 boxing categories.Having played in the 46kg category for the better part of her professional career,this was a major setback but she was up for the task and ended with a bronze medal-the first Indian woman boxer to clinch a medal in Olympics.
  • She also has won gold medals at Commomwealth games and Asian Indoor games.

AWARDS AND ACHEIVEMENTS

National awards

  • Arjuna award 2003
  • Padma shri(sports) 2006
  • Rajiv Gandhi khel ratna award 2009
  • Padma Bhushan 2013
  • Padma Vibhushan(second highest civilian award)2020
  • She is best known for being a six time World Amateur Boxing champion, a feat that definitely makes her one of the best ever women boxers the world has produced.
  • The International Boxing association(AIBA) awarded her with the first AIBA Legends award for “promising boxing career”and also announced her as the brand ambassador for 2016 Women’s World Boxing

In 2016,the President of India nominated Kom as a member of the Rajya sabha,the upper house of the parliament for her enoromous contribution in women’s boxing.

At 37 years of age,she has set her sight on winning the gold at the next olympics in Tokyo.As C.S.Lewis once said “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” which holds good in the life of Mary Kom. Many of the youngsters of today are afraid to pursue their dreams; they are afraid of rejections from the society.Success can never materialise from fear and to be successful one needs to be confident about one’s own abilities and skills.With her determination,perseverance and will power, Mary has inspired millions of women to excel in their field of interest and proved that nothing but sky is the limit!!!