Say hello to... Mary Kom

Despite all odds she pursued her dreams. Her victories are pointers for us too. Get to know her.

July 18, 2014 03:42 pm | Updated 03:42 pm IST

Mary Kom

Mary Kom

She wears shorts and large gloves for her sport. She wins all her “fights” by punching rivals. Her autobiography is called Unbreakable . Soon you will see a movie about her.

Guess who?

It is Indian boxer Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (born March 1, 1983) or Magnificent Mary as her fans call her. Look at the amazing record: She is a five time World Boxing champion, won a medal in six world championships and she is the only Indian woman boxer to win an Olympics medal (2012). She has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Struggle to the top

Mary Kom was born in a poor tribal family in Manipur. When she was young, she would attend school, look after her younger siblings and work in her parents’ farm during holidays. Mary loved to play hockey and football, and take part in athletics. Inspired by Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh’s gold at the 1998 Asian Games, she moved to Imphal. In her torn, shabby clothes the teenager stood in front of coach Kosana Meitei of Sports Authority of India, and said, “Please give me a chance”. She practised her punches day and night. She had just one goal: to lift her family out of poverty. “This girl will be a champion one day,” her coach thought.

In Mary’s village, girls did not box. She chose it because if she excelled in sports she would get a job. In 2000, she won the state-level sub-junior boxing championship and was declared the best boxer. Although she wanted to win, she would not injure rivals. She even said sorry to them. Losing the Olympic semi-finals was heart-breaking, but she decided that it would not keep her down.

“I remember the story of David and Goliath. I am small, Manipur is small, and I will aim for the Olympic gold.”

When some youngsters told her they wanted to be like “Mary didi ”, she set up the MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy in Imphal, in 2007. “Anyone can learn boxing,” she says. “All it needs is physical fitness and determination.”

She is getting ready for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games to be held from July 23 to August 3. After that, she will go for the gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

What is your take-away from Mary's story? Work hard, chase your dreams, never give up, help others without opportunities, play fair? Or all of the above?

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