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SPORTS

our years ago, it seemed that It goes to her credit that she has has rivals in a higher weight category.
time was up for Manipuri always defied the odds. She has busted A movie on her achievements when
after Pinki Jangra beat her in gender stereotypes and earned acco- Priyanka Chopra essayed the role of
the 51kg qualification trials for lades by setting up new benchmarks. Mary Kom has already immoratilised
F the 2014 Glasgow Common- She has overcome the odds posed by her and she is being hailed as ‘Magnifi-
wealth Games. But by winning her sixth the lack of resources and poor infra- cent Mary’ by the International Boxing
Gold across World Championships, she structure that hold back so much ath- Association (IBA). Her rise from a hum-
has equalled her stature with that of letic talent in India. In doing so, she has ble background to be an international
Cuban great, Felix Savon. The Cuban single handedly brought India on the role model has inspired many budding
great ruled boxing in the 1980s and world boxing landscape. She has also sports persons not only in boxing but
1990s. reinforced women’s sport by winning also in all other sports. The most in-
Why she lost against Pinki Jangra in consistently with exceptional deter- spirational aspect of Mary’s character
the 51 kg qualification trials for the 2014 mination and grace. Mary Kom, who is is her pursuit of sporting excellence
Glasgow Commonwealth Games is that now 35 and a mother of three, has had despite being a six-time world champi-
there was no 48 kg category and she a good 2018, winning her maiden Com- on, an Olympics medalist and a mother
had to compete a catch in the higher monwealth Games gold medal ear- of three. And her best is still coming.
51 kg category. Higher weight category lier this year. She extended that form She wants to fight at the 2020 Tokyo
naturally means competing with those in Delhi and cemented her place in the Olympics and come back with a medal.

Mary Kom, the ageless wonder,

enhances her legendary status

A sixth gold medal in the World Championship in Boxing, at age 35, is no mean feat. Rather it is an
astounding one because Mary Kom is not just another sportsperson. She is a legend and by defeating
Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota in the 48 kg category of Women’s World Championship, she has enhanced from fewer countries had participated. bouts without getting struck and this is
her already legendary status, writes SARRAH It was not even included in Olympics. what I largely managed to do this time.
The competition is much tough now-
No wasting of efforts. I have become
adays and considering the fact, our calculative.”
results here (one gold, a silver and two “I can put it down to the hype and
boxers who are taller than her and history of the World Championships She knows it would be tough and she bronze medals) were great.” About her Mary Kom has pressure maybe. At that time, women’s
have bigger frames and have mighty with an overall haul of seven medals, would be 37 and would again be fight- win, she said, “ this one was very spe- broken gender boxing was not that well known. People
punches. including silver on debut in 2001. ing in a higher weight category. But cial. I was under pressure and had to came but it wasn’t the same buzz. This
Mary Kom’s frame and height A bronze medalist at the 2012 Lon- she’s shown enough mattle already. For change my weight category also. I won stereotypes and time I saw people in the stands chant-
make her a natural winner in the 48kg don Olympics, Mary Kom’s victory has Mary Kom perhaps world “impossible” my last Worlds gold in 2010 and then earned accolades ing my name and it overwhelmed me,”
weight category. All her World Cham- triggered further speculations and ex- does not exist in her dictionary. the change of weight for Olympics she said. “There was this huge buzz and
pionships Gold medals have been won pectations that she will switch to the 51 Mary Kom, who won a historic sixth happened. Pressure was something I by setting up new on the final day it completely overpow-
in 48kg or lighter categories. But there’s kg weight class in the pursuit of a med- world title, was also adjudged the best always felt.” benchmarks. She has ered me, emotionally. That’s why I broke
no 48kg weight category in several big al at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In fact pugilist of the 10th World Women’s Mary Kom’s evolution as a boxer down, I couldn’t help it,” she explained.
multi-sport events such as the Olym- after her famous victory she had tears Boxing Championships. The AIBA pan- has been spectacular. She said that overcome the odds “To be the first woman boxer to
pics. That’s the reason she has to move rolling down her eyes and famously el which chose the Indian, as the best “in 2001, I was young, inexperienced, achieve all that I have achieved, I am
to the 51kg category to participate in said that she would need good wishes among the competitors was a richly in fact I would say I had no skill. I was posed by the lack quite pleased with how I have done.
these events. It’s a big challenge as she’s of all to do well in 51 kg category in deserved honour for Mary Kom, whose only relying on strength and stamina of resources and Everyone has dreams, I am no differ-
up against taller boxers who are used future. As a Member of Parliament (Ra- endurance, perseverance and the nev- to pull through. Just following my ent and I am glad that I am able to live
to absorbing bigger punches. That’s jya Sabha) and idol for many upcoming er-say-die attitude is unparalleled in instincts at that time. But now I have poor infrastructure my dreams,” said the seemingly ageless
the challenge she faced at the Lon - women boxers, she has a full schedule, history of sports. the experience to ensure that I didn’t that hold back powerhouse.
don Olympics in 2012, when she won and will be aware that it will take all she Mary Kom recalled her participation exert myself unnecessarily. I don’t
bronze. has to fight with younger and stronger from beginning “at that time, boxers want to get hit anymore, I like to win many in India LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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