Mary Kom
About
An Olympic boxer, Mary Kom is the six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion, the only woman boxer to win a medal in each of the six world championships, and the only Indian to win a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Born in a small village in Manipur, Mary had a tough childhood; her parents were farm labourers and working and caring for her siblings was a part of her life. She was passionate about boxing and followed her passion despite all odds.
Her efforts paid off, and she won the gold medal at the 1998 'Asian Games'. Her victory motivated her, and she decided to pursue her career as a professional boxer with her new enthusiasm- a decision to change her life.
In 2016, she was nominated as a member of the 'Rajya Sabha' by the President of India. 'The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' in 2017 appointed Mary as one of the National Observers for Boxing.
She co-authored her autobiography, Unbreakable, with Dina Serto in 2014. Mary Kom (2014)), a film based on her autobiography, starring Priyanka Chopra was a huge success.
Awards and Accomplishments
Awards and Accomplishments
She was honoured with the prestigious ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2013, ‘Arjuna Award’ in 2003 and ‘Padma Shri’ in 2006.
Mary is ranked as the No. 1 ‘Female Lightweight’ by AIBA. She also became the first to win gold in the ‘Asian Games’ in 2014. She has been ranked No. 4 in the AIBA ‘World Women’s Ranking Flyweight’ category.
Mary became the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold medal at the Asian Games in 2014 in South Korea. Mary is also the first Indian female boxer to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games (2018).
She received ‘People of the Year’- Limca Book of Records in 2007. She is popular among the youth and was ‘Pepsi MTV Youth Icon’ in 2008.
Why MARY KOM ?
Mary’s journey of becoming the six-time World Boxing Championship winner and building a successful career as an athlete is an inspiration to all. She also broke the stereotype that women, especially married and with kids, cannot have a successful career as an athlete. Undoubtedly the most decorated boxer in the world, Mary Kom has not only been a trailblazer for the sport in India but has also been one of the reasons behind the rise of Indian women’s boxing.
A girl from humble beginnings who did not give up on her dream in the face of adversity, her story is an inspiration to all who dare to dream big!
