WHILE PENURY AND HARDSHIPS MIGHT BREAK THE SPIRITS OF MANY, FOR MARY KOM, THEY ONLY FUELLED THE FIRE FOR HER AMBITION AS THE WORLD'S BEST BOXER
See Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom at work in the ring and at play with her children and you might think she is a split personality. Soft and ever smiling as a mother, she has a steely glint in her eye and is merciless when it comes to her opponents. Known simply as Mary Kom, she has an even better name — Magnificent Mary. The adjective best describes the way her iron fist brings the opponents down in a boxing ring.
An inspiration to millions of underdogs and aspiring sportspersons, Kom’s determination, dedication and success in international boxing have silenced her critics who, on many occasions, have raised questions over her boxing ability after her marriage and motherhood. In fact, it will be no exaggeration to say that Mary Kom has become the face of Indian boxing over the years. The Asian gold medalist boxer has emerged as motivation for women who want to continue their career after marriage and motherhood. She is also a sports icon and the face of women empowerment today.
Now a poster girl of the gritty sport, success didn’t come easy to Kom. She had to wait for a long to get her due acknowledgement for her wonderful achievements. But the woman of few words seldom complained. Today, all of it seemed worth it as she is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, Olympics bronze medalist, Asian games gold medalist and has won many more titles for the nation. For now, however, she is looking at the next big prize. The 31-year-old mother-ofthree from India’s north-eastern state of Manipur wants to come into the form that won her an incredible five world titles in the 46-48kg category between 2002 and 2010. and aims to fulfill the desire of the nation to win the gold medal in coming Rio Olympics games in 2016.
An ambassador for women’s boxing with the International Boxing Association, Kom was also the face of its campaign for the inclusion of women’s boxing in the 2012 London Olympics.
“The London Olympics still haunt me since the country was expecting a gold from me and I settled for a bronze. I worked hard to win the Olympics gold for years. And although it was one of the most glorious moments my career, it turned into a personal disappointment that still nags me,” she says. Fighting in a new 51-kg flyweight category, Kom lost narrowly to Britain’s Nicola Adams in the semifinals and was left with a bronze medal, which shattered her dream of gold. “I felt I had let the country down. Being part of the Olympics was a dream and there I was standing on the podium. But the Indian anthem was not playing. That hurt me badly,” she says, barely managing to hide her sigh.
A true fighter, she has only emerged stronger. For Kom has always maintained there is no short cut to success. “People will criticise you, humiliate you and will raise questions over your capability, but it is only your performance that can silence them,” she says, adding how her critics has said she was past her prime when she failed to qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth Games after losing in the trials to a younger opponent. “But I proved them wrong by beating the same opponent to book my place at the Asian Games and later won the gold medal for the country, too. I never gave up; I love to fight against the odds,” she says. But fighting against the odds is nothing new — she has done it all her life.
During the interaction, Kom recounts many sweet memories from her career, but also talks about the dark details from experiences she faced due to racial discrimination, which she faced because of being from the north-east. With several attacks on the north-eastern community in mainland India, Kom worries about people’s attitude for those from north-eastern India.
“When I started my career and visited some parts of Delhi and Haryana, I was discriminated against by the common people and even some officials”, she reveals, “Though these people were not in majority, it hurt me badly. People in India are not well-informed about the different cultures and races of our own country and often consider those from the north-east as outsiders, and not Indian, which is painful.”
Things may be getting better as the media and police have become more sensitive and people are becoming better informed about the diversity of the nation. The optimistic Kom feels a majority of the people are against racial discrimination. Says she, “They respect me and ask me to motivate others. Now whenever I visit Delhi or Haryana I get a lot of respect, love, affection and blessings. They say I bring the glory to the nation, adding how it feels good when people say she has made the country proud and given them a reason to celebrate. “I hope we don’t have to prove our nationality again. We are proud to be Indian and are an integral part of the nation” she hopes.
Kom’s success in boxing history has made people take interest in her and they want to know more about her. In 2013, she released her autobiography Unbreakable. Last year, Bollywood made a biopic on her life and actor Priyanka Chopra played her role on the silver screen and the movie grossed more than Rs 100 crore worldwide.
But Kom’s own life started with little. She was born to parents who were landless agricultural labourers in Manipur. “Coming from a poor family was not easy and we went through some hard times. I had to work hard in Jhum [slash and burn cultivation popular in the north-east] fields, but which was a blessing in disguise as it prepared my body for the sport,” she reminisces, adding how every moment of her life has played a part in making her who she is today. “Because of my hardships I could inspire and motivate others to never lose hope and fight for one's dreams,” she Kom. Her own inspiring moment came when she saw Manipuri boxer Dinko Singh win the gold medal in Bangkok Asian games in 1998.
A school dropout, Kom says she could not clear her ninth grade exams at Adimjati High School, Imphal, and quit her schooling. She later completed her graduation by an alternative method. Academics may not have been easy for her to duck, but then it was sports that she was really attracted to. Even then, she says humbly, “I never thought I would become a world champion; I just knew how to fight and never give up when I go up there for a bout. I follow this rule and work hard to achieve my target.”
Kom’s hard work and achievements finally started to get noticed by the sports administration and she got the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009. “I can’t describe my happiness. I was so happy to win this prestigious award; it boosted my morale and confidence. The best part: people were acknowledging what I was doing,” she gushes.
Sitting back, taking stock of her life so far, the woman boxer says she owes everything to boxing. “Boxing has given me everything. Whatever I am today is because of boxing. It has given me an identity, a job, home, money and, above all the opportunity to represent my county in international arena. Now I am in the police force with a higher designation,” she says.
Speaking on the future of Indian Kom felt, “The Beijing Olympics and Delhi Commonwealth Games had changed the face of Indian sports worldwide and our performance was better in the London Olympics. I hope we will do even better in the coming Olympics.” She is happy that many sponsors and people have come forward to nurture the sports talent at the grassroots level. Kom, too, has got a sponsorship from the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ). “I can now focus on my practice and don’t need to worry about money, medical support, nutrition and proper facilities,” she says with relief and gratitude.
In the near future, she too wants to nurture future talent that can win medals for the country in international competitions. She has set up a boxing academy MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy for the same. Retirement? Kom says she is yet to take a final decision on it but she could make the final call after the Rio Olympics. One more gold, please, we say.