From Churachandpur to London: The Journey from a Mother of Twins to the Face of Nation
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M.C. Mary Kom: India’s Rocky Balboa
Yes, many people must have recognized to whom I am referring. But still it’s a real life story and very inspiring. It’s a story of a small town woman who went all through London to follow her childhood passion, hailing from a small town of Churachandpur district of Manipur.
Mary Koms Early Life
She was born on 1st March 1983, a strong Piscean personality. Born in a very poor Tribal family. From childhood she has interest in sports and particularly in Martial Arts which is really famous in North Eastern Region. Her life was really tough as others. She used to help her parents in one or the other way.
In Manipur only rich children can go to private school and rest go to Government school where the quality of education is not so good. So in order to build a decent life they have to achieve something in sports so that they can get a good job. It was on her mind from childhood in order to support her family. Her parents had to feed and educate four children of which she was the eldest one. In school she has played almost every sports except Boxing. It was never in her wildest dream to become a Boxer until she got to know about “Dingko Singh”, a Manipuri boxer who won Gold Medal at 1998 Asian games. At that time she was just 15 years old.
Mary Koms Journey
Immediately she moved to Imphal to train in athletics. Only one thing was on her mind that she has to support her family financially. She directly approached K. Kosana Meitei at the Sports Authority of India there and asked to be given a chance. He was really surprised when he saw her because she was wearing torn, rugged and shabby clothes. He saw some spark in her eyes and immediately he said yes.
In the initial stage her family don’t know anything that she has interest in boxing. She has stated that:
“I still remember I was castigated by my father who said with a battered and bruised face, I should not expect to get married. He was furious that I took to boxing – a taboo for women – and he did not have the slightest idea about it. But my passion for the sport had got the better of me and I thank my cousins who coaxed and cajoled my father into eventually giving his nod. I’m happy that I did not let anybody down,” she told the Deccan Herald in September 2004.
In 2000, she won the state level Junior Boxing Championship and that was the time she got to know that she was born to box.
She herself stated that she is a quick learner and had learnt all the basics of boxing in just 2 weeks.
Mary Koms Struggle
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Back in the year 2000, an unknown ‘Kom’ girl from Manipur took a train to Bangalore for the national boxing camp. Having had lost her wallet in a previous train journey, she strapped her suitcase carrying her passport, money and worldly possessions to her wrist with an iron chain. However, she woke up to find that her maneuver had failed. The suitcase was gone.
She Said:
“I had a very difficult financial background. Money was always tight and it had taken a lot of work to get my passport made. There I was with nothing in my hand but the chain. I have been a fighter by nature but that was one moment when I actually contemplated ending my life. I was tired of the struggle and the troubles amounting to a stolen suitcase,” narrated Mary Kom. “I was most worried about my passport as I had my first international tournament within a month or so.”
After so much of efforts finally she made it at the top, she was 5 times world champion and also she won Bronze medal in 2012 Olympics held in London.
Source: Click here
She got married in 2005 to Onler Kom after 4 years of dating. Her greatest achievement though, has been the fact that much of her success has come after the Caesarean birth of her twins. “It was difficult to come back because I had been out of the ring for two years,” she says. “It was hard to regain my physical fitness. No one expected me to win. Even my parents didn’t think it would be possible. But I couldn’t stay at home! My performances were still good. So I just had to come back.”
“My husband [K. Onler Kom] also didn’t stop me. Most Indian men don’t give permission to their wives to work after marriage or after having kids. But my husband told me I should continue to play for as many years as I wanted.”
One of her little sons was in hospital on the verge of heart surgery when the Arjuna awardee won the gold at the Asian Cup last year, and with the pain evident in her voice, she admits, “It is very, very hard to leave the children behind. They are still very young. But I have the full support of my husband. He takes care of the family, so that I don’t have to worry and can concentrate fully on training.”
The motivation to return also came as woman’s boxing began to get international recognition, after being included in the Asian Games and finally, the London Olympics for the first time.
“That gave me encouragement to come back. I wanted to participate in those events.”
It is also the shy and diminutive 29-year-olds last chance to get the respect and appreciation her achievements deserve, with the sport now in public eye after India won its first medal in boxing at the Beijing Olympics through Vijender Singh.
“My dream is, and always has been, to win at the Olympics. I’m very excited because this is the first time female boxing has been included. If you win an Olympic medal, you get fame, popularity and, of course, funds and support from the government,” says the 2010 Asian Games bronze medalist.
As a pioneer for women’s boxing in India, Mary is already an inspiration for many others who hope to follow in her footsteps, including the several young girls training at the MC Mary Kom Academy. Meanwhile, despite having had to shift to the 51kg weight category for the Olympics, the expectations are only rising. But ‘Magnificent Mary’, as she is known, is determined to overcome the odds, as always.
“I am very proud because I have done something special for India. And if I can achieve more in the future, that will be great. I am working hard and training with full focus. I hope I can qualify and win a medal.”
Unbreakable: Mary Koms Autobiography
Finally on 11th Dec’2013 the much awaited Autobiography release by Mary Kom, published by Harper Collins at an event held at Bangalore Forum Mall. The book clearly represent the story of Thousands of Woman in this country. Also, Mary’s passion for boxing has been clearly reflected.
A film on Mary’s Life
Yes, it’s correct. Bollywood renowned director Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed the upcoming movie starring “Priyanka Chopra” herself as Mary Kom.
It’s a great honor for any sportsman and she deserves it. She won a Bronze medal at Olympics in 2012. And five times World Champion.
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