Mary Kom(1982 — ?)
Mary Kom
Inde
6 min read
Mary Kom is an Indian boxer born in 1983 in the state of Manipur. A six-time amateur world champion and Olympic bronze medalist in 2012, she became an icon of women's sport in India. Nicknamed "Magnificent Mary," she also serves as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
Key Facts
- Born on March 1, 1983, in Kangathei, in the state of Manipur (India)
- First crowned amateur boxing world champion in 2002, followed by five more world titles (through 2018)
- Olympic bronze medal at the 2012 London Games in the flyweight category
- Gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games
- Appointed a member of the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of the Indian Parliament) in 2016
Works & Achievements
In Antalya, she won the first of her six world titles, launching an exceptional career.
In London, she became the first Indian boxer to win an Olympic medal, at the first edition open to women.
An account of her life that inspires many young people, especially girls from modest backgrounds.
The first Indian boxer to win the continental title, confirming her dominance in Asia.
A training center founded in Imphal to give young people from her region access to quality training.
In New Delhi, she became one of the most decorated boxers in the history of the World Championships.
India's second-highest civilian honor, recognizing her entire sports career and her role as a role model.
Anecdotes
In 1998, the Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh won gold at the Asian Games in Bangkok and became a hero in Mary Kom's home state. The young girl, born into a poor farming family, decided to train in secret: her father, a former wrestler, feared that boxing would damage her face and hurt her marriage prospects. He discovered her passion when he saw a photo of his daughter in the newspaper, after a victory in a regional competition.
Married in 2005, Mary Kom gave birth to twins in 2007, and many people thought her career was over. Yet she climbed back into the ring and reclaimed the world champion title as early as 2008, then won an Olympic bronze medal in 2012. She became a symbol for all mothers who refuse to give up their sport.
Women's boxing made its Olympic debut in 2012, in London. Mary Kom was the only Indian woman boxer to qualify: her bronze medal, in the flyweight category, made her a national heroine in India.
In 2014, a Bollywood film titled “Mary Kom” told her life story, starring Priyanka Chopra in the title role, who trained hard at boxing. The choice of an actress not from Manipur sparked debate, but the film introduced the champion to audiences across India.
In 2016, the President of India appointed Mary Kom to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Parliament, where a few distinguished figures are chosen to sit based on their merit. In 2021, she was chosen to carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Primary Sources
In her autobiography, Mary Kom recounts her childhood in a poor family in Manipur, the help she gave her parents in the rice paddies, and her determination to prove that a girl of humble background could become a world champion.
The Olympic record lists the bronze medal of Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (India), the first Indian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal.
The President of the Republic of India appoints Mary Kom as a member of the Rajya Sabha as a distinguished figure in the field of sport.
Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom is among the recipients of the Padma Vibhushan in the “sport” category, India's second-highest civilian honour.
Key Places
Mary Kom's native village, in a poor, rural region of northeastern India where she helped her parents in the fields.
Capital of the state where she trained and founded her boxing academy to coach young people from her region.
Venue for the boxing events at the 2012 Olympic Games, where Mary Kom won her historic bronze medal.
Capital of India, where she won several world titles and has held a seat in the Rajya Sabha since 2016.
Host city of the 2014 Asian Games, where she became the first Indian woman boxer to win a continental championship.