Magnificent Mary

Mary is a role model for modern Indian women.'

Mangle Chungneijang Mary Kom or simply ‘Magnificent Mary’ now stands in her own league. Her fifth consecutive World gold medal in boxing is a reward for her unyielding desire to be the best and the ability to ward off challenges of different nature. Born in Kangethi, Manipur, the 27-year-old did not have a happy childhood and her career as an athlete appeared going nowhere after flawed attempts at 400 metres and javelin throw. But then the big turning point came. Dingko Singh’s gold-winning effort in Bangkok Asian Games set off a boxing revolution in Manipur and Mary Kom sensed a door opening for her. She did not allow the natural timorousness of a village girl from cashing in on that opportunity. Mary Kom started training seriously only in 2000 but she has captured five World titles towards the end of 2010. She also had to take a two-year sabbatical from boxing after giving birth to her twins but she returned to grab back-to-back titles, an effort that revealed her hunger for success and dedication to her chosen field. In fact, Mary Kom rushed to the ring for training merely 15 hours after nailing her fifth World gold medal. With the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, only a couple of months away, she does not want to rest on laurels and wants to further polish her already awesome skills. A new challenge beckons Mary Kom as she has to find a slot in the 51kg category for the Asiad. If her performances thus far are any indication then the ace boxer will certainly measure up to the test. Mary Kom’s ambition is to clinch an Olympic medal and her opportunity will come in the London Olympics 2012 where women’s boxing has been approved as a medal event. Despite success, she has managed to keep her feet firmly on the ground, keeping away from the media glare, nursing her babies and training for future assignments. In that respect, she is a genuine role model for modern Indian women who want to strike the right balance between professional and personal lives. And in a country where the status of legend is often bestowed at the flimsiest of excuses, reams of paper might not be used to extol Mary Kom. But from a sporting perspective, she has already become a true legend.