~ T. Zamlunmang Zou
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom also known as MC Mary Kom or Mary Kom, a female boxer from Manipur, India and a mother of two, clinch her fifth successive Women’s World Boxing Championship this year at Barbados, beating Romania’s Steluta Duta convincingly to take the light flyweight title.Kom was overcome with emotion after her win of her fifth successive world title. “I would like to thank my husband and my sponsor for both giving me the will power and encouraging me. I’m really really happy and I thank God,” she said. Kom won her first title in 2001, at the age of 18 and has now taken gold medals at the past four AIBA Women’s World Championships.
International Boxing Association (AIBA) awarded her the coveted tile ‘Magnificent Mary’ at AIBA World Championships Ningbo City 2008.
Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat said that her achievement has brought pride not only to Manipur but also to the whole of India. Her feat has also created a landmark in the annals of women’s boxing. Describing Mary as an icon, the Governor said that she is the source of inspiration to all youngsters and budding sportspersons and has demonstrated what hard work, dedication and commitment can achieve.
Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh described Mary Kom as the “daughter of Manipur and sportsperson par excellence, An epitome of inspiration and motivation to our youth today”.
On her success, the whole of Manipur come out and express their heartfelt congratulations. He inspire each and every Manipuris. While the whole of Manipur is in the mood of celebration, Mary Kom ~ a northeastern sportsperson, who have lifted Indian flag on world’s sport stages does not have a space in any national newspaper front page.
While congratulating Magnificent Mary Kom on her winning her fifth consecutive world boxing championship, I cried deep in my heart. NO SPACE FOR HER ON THE NATIONAL PAPERS FRONT PAGES while their is plenty of space for the mainland Indian sport stars.
Lets look at the comments ,ade by some of my friends on facebook:
Lalboi Khongsai Tahchapa said, they dont consider us a Indians. We are Indians only politically and geographically. We get what is left over! If she is someone from the mainland, she’ll be a celibrity by now.
Voiceof Thehills said, Mary kom and Biachung Bhutia et al deserve a special space at least in the mainstream media had the mainland Indian really applause them for their laudable contributions to the nation. They should shed their superiority or inferiority complex ego if they wants to propel Indian athletes into the world sports….
Cicily Zou said, Golden Girl, Mary Kom has no space in the national papers 4 her superb performance. jst imagine Yuvraj Singh making waves 4 being axed due 2 non performance…
About Her
Mary Kom was born on 1st March 1983 at Kangathei, CCpur Subdivision in Manipur state and married to Karung Onkholer Kom on 12.3.2005 Sat at MBC Church, Imphal.
She finished Cl. I-IV from Christian Model High School, Loktak, V-IX at St. Xavier’s School, Moirang, X at Adimjati High School, Imphal, Class XII (Arts) and she is a graduate.
Early life and foray into boxing
Mary Kom took to sports in an effort to provide some financial support to her family. “I was initially an all-round athlete, and 400-m and javelin were my pet events. When Dingko Singh returned from Bangkok (Asian Games) with a gold, I thought I should give it a try. Dingko’s success triggered a revolution of sort in Manipur and surprisingly I found that I was not the only girl who was drawn into boxing,” she said.
She began boxing in 2000 and was a quick learner who preferred to be put through the same paces as the boys around her. She initially tried to keep her interest from her father, M. Tonpu Kom, and mother Saneikham Kom, but winning a 2000 state championship got her photograph in the newspaper.
After winning her first title and Best Boxer at the First State Level Invitation women’s boxing championship in Manipur in 2000, Mary Kom went on to win the gold in the Seventh East India Women’s Boxing Championship held in West Bengal and five subsequent Indian National Championships from 2000 to 2005.
She also embarked on an international campaign that has brought her a series of gold medals and honors.
On her way by train to the selection camp for her first Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Bangkok, she had all her luggage and her passport stolen. Her parents asked her to come home but she carried on her course.
Achievements
- Boxing Champion (Women PIN Weight 46 kg Category)
- Founder, MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy (Girls), A/112, Games Village, Imphal 2006
National
1.Gold – Ist Women Nat. Boxing Championship, Chennai 6-12.2.2001
2.The East Open Boxing Champ, Bengal 11-14.12.2001
3.2nd Sr World Women Boxing Championship, New Delhi 26-30.12.2001
4.National Women Sort Meet, N. Delhi 26-30.12.2001
5.32nd National Games, Hyderabad 2002
6.3rd Sr World Women Boxing Champ, Aizawl 4-8.3.2003
7.4th Sr WWBC, Kokrajar, Assam 24-28.2.2004
8.5th Sr WWBC, Kerala 26-30.12.2004
9.6th Sr WWBC, Jamshedpur 29 Nov-3.12.2005
10.10th WNBC, Jamshedpur lost QF by 1-4 on 5.10.2009
International
1.Ist Asian Women Boxing Championship (AWBC), Bangkok 2001
2.2nd AWBC, Hissar, Haryana 19-22.11.2003
3.3rd AWBC, Kaohsing City, Taiwan 5-12.8.2005
4.Silver medal – 2001 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships, Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.
5.Gold medal – 2002 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships, Antalya, Turkey.
6.Gold medal – 2005 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships, Podolsk, Russia.
7.Gold medal – 2006 World Women’s Boxing Championship, New Delhi, India.
8.Ist WWB Tournament, Norway 2004
9.Venus Cup International Women Box Tourn, Vejla (Denmark ) 8-23.10.2006
10.Gold medal – 2008 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, Ningbo, China.
11.Gold medal – 2010 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, Barbados].
Awards
1.Arjuna Award (Boxing) 2004
2.Padma Shree (Sports) 2006
3.Contender for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2007
4.People of the Year- Limca Book of Records 2007
5.CNN-IBN ‘Real Heroes’ Award 14.4. 2008 Mon
6.Pepsi MTV Youth Icon 2008 23.12.2008 Tue
7.‘Magnificient Mary’, AIBA 2008
8.Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 29.8.2009 Sat, New Delhi (27.7.2009 Wed)
9.Int’l Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing 2009
10.On August 29, 2009 she was selected for the India’s highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award.
References:
- The Sangai Express
- aiba.org
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