Without a question, one of the world’s most fascinating athletes is Mary Kom. Given how inspiring Kom’s story is, it makes sense that a major film has already been made on her life. Given that she was raised in an impoverished area of India, it was likely that she would work the land alongside her family. Nevertheless, she moved to the city, overcame her family’s objections, trained as a boxer by convincing a local coach to give her a chance, and eventually worked her way up to become a champion.
Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, popularly known as MC Mary Kom has spent the last 20 years as one of India’s top athletes. There’s not an accolade to elude this boxing icon, whether it be her six women’s world championship titles or her bronze medal from the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Here is a recap of everything ‘Magnificent Mary’ has accomplished in the boxing ring so far, following her defeat in the Round of 16 at the Tokyo Olympics, which was probably her final appearance at the Games.
The Indian boxer has won medals in all eight of the women’s world boxing championships since they were first held in 2001. 18-year old Mary Kom created an impression with her clean boxing technique when she competed at the first global meet in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she further made it to the 48 kg category final. Up against the kick-boxer-turned-boxer Hulya Sahin of Turkey in the final, Mary Kom’s inexperience at the international stage was her undoing as she returned home with a silver. A year later, she made a triumphant comeback, this time winning her first world title in the 45 kg class against Jang Song-ae of North Korea. Mary Kom became the first Indian to take home a gold medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships!
Kom’s reign as a global amateur boxing champion was launched by her victory, and over the next few years, she would win five global Championship titles in the pinweight division, including 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010 editions. For Mary Kom, the 2008 title held particular significance since it followed a two-year hiatus caused by the birth of her twins. The Indian boxing sensation later switched to the light flyweight class, but not before winning a record-tying fifth world title in 2010 to solidify her status as one of the sport’s greatest competitors.
Mary Kom received an Olympic medal in 2012, but after giving birth to her third baby in 2013, the Indian supermom had to give up on the sport once more. She didn’t reclaim her title as the world’s best fighter until the 2018 World Championships in New Delhi, despite her quick comeback to the ring. Kom won her sixth world title while competing domestically, defeating Hanna Okhota of Ukraine 5-0. After a year, she became the most successful boxer of all time with her eighth world medal and this occurred in the Olympic weight division, the flyweight 51 kg class.
However, Kom is a groundbreaker in many respects. In addition to fighting, Kom is a mother of three young children, owns a sports club in her home state of Manipur where she trains kids to box for free, and she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, the Indian parliament’s upper house, where she campaigns on behalf of her fellow people on a variety of topics.