Mary Kom
Encyclopedia
Mangte Chungneijang Merykom, also known as MC Mary Kom or Mary Kom, is a female boxer
from Manipur
, India
who is supported by Olympic Gold Quest
. Mary Kom, a mother of two, is five times World Boxing Champion, successively. She came back from a two-year sabbatical to clinch her fourth successive World Amateur boxing
gold in 2008, a feat that prompted the AIBA
to describe her as 'Magnificent Mary'. She was earlier an athlete and switched to boxing after the success of fellow Manipur boxer Dingko Singh
.
Recently, Mary Kom Won Fifth Consecutive World Boxing Championship Title.
Mary Kom Won World Boxing Championship Title in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday, Sep 18, 2010 in Bridgetown. This is the fifth consecutive win for Mary Kom in World Boxing Championship Title. Mary Kom defeated Romanian opponent Duta Seluta 16-6
Mary Kom had won four title of World Boxing Championship in the 46 kg category but this time Mary Kom won in the 48 kg category. In semifinal Mary Kom had defeated Filipino opponent Alice Appari 8-1.
Mary Kom is the only boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six World Championships.
On 3 October 2010, she had the honour of bearing the Queen's Baton in its Opening Ceremony
run in the stadium for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
of Delhi.
returned from Bangkok
(Asian Games) with a gold, I thought I should give it a try. Dingko's success triggered a revolution of sort in Manipur and surprisingly I found that I was not the only girl who was drawn into boxing," she said.
She began boxing in 2000 and was a quick learner who preferred to be put through the same paces as the boys around her. She initially tried to keep her interest from her father, M. Tonpu Kom, and mother Saneikham Kom, but winning a 2000 state championship got her photograph in the newspaper.
After winning her first title and Best Boxer at the First State Level Invitation women's boxing championship in Manipur in 2000, Mary Kom went on to win the gold in the Seventh East India Women’s Boxing Championship held in West Bengal
and five subsequent Indian National Championships from 2000 to 2005.
She also embarked on an international campaign that has brought her a series of gold medals and honors.
On her way by train to the selection camp for her first Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Bangkok, she had all her luggage and her passport stolen. Her parents asked her to come home but she carried on her course.
On November 22, 2003 in the 46-kg finals of the Asian Women's Championships at Mahabir Stadium in Hisar, India, she defeated Chou Szu Yin of Chinese Taipei by RSCO-2. She had previously defeated L. G. Chandrika of Sri Lanka also by RSCO-2.
and continued with a win in the Third Asian Women's Championship, held in Taiwan
.
In her first AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship in Scranton, USA in 2001, the 18-year-old Mary Kom had to settle for silver, losing to Hulya Sahin
of Turkey by 13-5 in the 48-kg final after defeating Jamie Behl of Canada by 21-9 in the semi-final and Nadia Hockmi of Poland by RSCO-3 in the quarter-final. "She was leading in the first round but her opponent managed to score points in the final round," coach Anoop Kumar said of Mary Kom's performance in the final.
The next year, she struck gold at the Second AIBA World Women’s Senior Boxing Championship held from October 21–27, 2002 in Antalya, Turkey, winning the 45-kg division by defeating Svetlana Miroshnichenko of the Ukraine in her semi-final and Jang Song-Ae of North Korea in the final
Her once-skeptical father accompanied his trail-blazing daughter to the ceremony in 2003 at which she was the first woman ever to receive India's prestigious Arjuna award for her achievement in boxing.
She also took gold in the 46-kg division of the Women's World Boxing Tournament in Tønsberg, Norway from 27 April to 2 May 2004, defeating Derya Aktop of Turkey by RSCO-2 in the semi-final and Xia Li of China by RSCO-2 in the final.
She was also the Witch Cup Tournament champion in Hungary in 2004.
At the August 2004 Asian Women's Boxing Championships in Taiwan she defeated Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines 35-11 in the 46-kg final.
She successfully defended her 46-kg world title at the Third AIBA Women's World Championships held from 25 September to 2 October 2005 in Podolsk, Russia. She won the final by a 28-13 score over Jong Ok of North Korea, who had reached the finals with a 22-20 decision over Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines. Kom had defeated Elena Sabitova of Russia 31-16 in her semi-final and Nancy Fortin of Canada 30-13 in her preliminary. While she saw her repeat win as great progress, she expressed admiration for the Russians, who won the team event.
On 19–22 October 2006 at the Venus Box Cup in Vejle, Denmark, Mary Kom won by RSCO-2 over Sofie Molholr of Denmark in the 46-kg semi-final and defeated Steluta Duta of Romania by retirement in the third round. Duta had defeated Valeria Calabrese of Italy RSCI-2 to reach the final and had also won the 46-kg division of the Ahmet Comert Tournament in 2006 with a RSCO-2 over Derya Aktop of Turkey (Merykom did not compete in that tournament.)
On 23 November 2006 at the AIBA World Championships at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India Mary Kom again won the 46-kg division - this time with a 22-7 decision over her Venus Box Cup final opponent Steluta Duta of Romania. Mary Kom kept the Romanian on the defensive for most of the bout, then celebrated her win with a demonstration of Manipuri folk dance in the ring. Duta reached the final with a RSCO-2 win over Boranbayeva Zalgul of Kazakhstan in the semi.
In New Delhi, Mary Kom had previously defeated Jong Ok of North Korea 20-8 in the semi-final, and Chandrike Geruga of Sri Lanka by RSCO-2 in the quarter-final after a bye in the preliminary round. She began the tournament with a cough and fever (and was unable to take any medication because of the doping test) but she still performed well enough to lead Chandrike Geruga 13-3 after one round, and the bout was stopped in the second with Mary Kom ahead 19-4.
National
International
On August 29, 2009 she was selected for the India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award alongside boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar
.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who is supported by Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest
Olympic Gold Quest is a program of the Foundation Of Sports And Games , started by Indian sporting icons Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone to identify and support Indian athletes with a proven track record and who have the potential to win Olympic gold medals...
. Mary Kom, a mother of two, is five times World Boxing Champion, successively. She came back from a two-year sabbatical to clinch her fourth successive World Amateur boxing
World Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
gold in 2008, a feat that prompted the AIBA
International Boxing Association
The International Boxing Association is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
to describe her as 'Magnificent Mary'. She was earlier an athlete and switched to boxing after the success of fellow Manipur boxer Dingko Singh
Dingko Singh
Dingko Singh is an Indian boxer who won the gold medal at 1998 Asian Games. He hails from Manipur.-Achievements:Won the King's cup in Bangkok in 1997Won the Asian Games gold in the 1998 Bangkok Games...
.
Recently, Mary Kom Won Fifth Consecutive World Boxing Championship Title.
Mary Kom Won World Boxing Championship Title in Bridgetown, Barbados on Saturday, Sep 18, 2010 in Bridgetown. This is the fifth consecutive win for Mary Kom in World Boxing Championship Title. Mary Kom defeated Romanian opponent Duta Seluta 16-6
Mary Kom had won four title of World Boxing Championship in the 46 kg category but this time Mary Kom won in the 48 kg category. In semifinal Mary Kom had defeated Filipino opponent Alice Appari 8-1.
Mary Kom is the only boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six World Championships.
On 3 October 2010, she had the honour of bearing the Queen's Baton in its Opening Ceremony
2010 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the 2010 Commonwealth Games was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium of the event, in New Delhi, India...
run in the stadium for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
of Delhi.
Education
- Cl. I-IV - Christian Model High School, Loktak, Manipur
- V-IX - St. Xavier’s School, Moirang
- X - Adimjati High School, Imphal
- PUC (Arts)
- BA student
1985–2003: Early life and foray into boxing
Mary Kom took to sports in an effort to provide some financial support to her family. "I was initially an all-round athlete, and 400-m and javelin were my pet events. When Dingko SinghDingko Singh
Dingko Singh is an Indian boxer who won the gold medal at 1998 Asian Games. He hails from Manipur.-Achievements:Won the King's cup in Bangkok in 1997Won the Asian Games gold in the 1998 Bangkok Games...
returned from Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
(Asian Games) with a gold, I thought I should give it a try. Dingko's success triggered a revolution of sort in Manipur and surprisingly I found that I was not the only girl who was drawn into boxing," she said.
She began boxing in 2000 and was a quick learner who preferred to be put through the same paces as the boys around her. She initially tried to keep her interest from her father, M. Tonpu Kom, and mother Saneikham Kom, but winning a 2000 state championship got her photograph in the newspaper.
After winning her first title and Best Boxer at the First State Level Invitation women's boxing championship in Manipur in 2000, Mary Kom went on to win the gold in the Seventh East India Women’s Boxing Championship held in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
and five subsequent Indian National Championships from 2000 to 2005.
She also embarked on an international campaign that has brought her a series of gold medals and honors.
On her way by train to the selection camp for her first Asian Women’s Boxing Championships in Bangkok, she had all her luggage and her passport stolen. Her parents asked her to come home but she carried on her course.
On November 22, 2003 in the 46-kg finals of the Asian Women's Championships at Mahabir Stadium in Hisar, India, she defeated Chou Szu Yin of Chinese Taipei by RSCO-2. She had previously defeated L. G. Chandrika of Sri Lanka also by RSCO-2.
2003- present awards and success
MARY KOM's "international gold rush" finally began with the Second Asian Women's Championship in HissarHisar, India
Hisar city, previously spelled Hissar, is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district, in the state of Haryana, in northwestern India. Hisar was founded in 1354 CE, as Hissar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. on the demolished ruins...
and continued with a win in the Third Asian Women's Championship, held in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
In her first AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship in Scranton, USA in 2001, the 18-year-old Mary Kom had to settle for silver, losing to Hulya Sahin
Hülya Sahin
Hülya Şahin, aka Julia "Sunshine" Sahin, is a Turkish professional female boxer with German passport. She is a former world champion in kick boxing and was world champion in amateur boxing as well. As of September 1, 2007, she is the undefeated WIBF world junior flyweight champion...
of Turkey by 13-5 in the 48-kg final after defeating Jamie Behl of Canada by 21-9 in the semi-final and Nadia Hockmi of Poland by RSCO-3 in the quarter-final. "She was leading in the first round but her opponent managed to score points in the final round," coach Anoop Kumar said of Mary Kom's performance in the final.
The next year, she struck gold at the Second AIBA World Women’s Senior Boxing Championship held from October 21–27, 2002 in Antalya, Turkey, winning the 45-kg division by defeating Svetlana Miroshnichenko of the Ukraine in her semi-final and Jang Song-Ae of North Korea in the final
Her once-skeptical father accompanied his trail-blazing daughter to the ceremony in 2003 at which she was the first woman ever to receive India's prestigious Arjuna award for her achievement in boxing.
She also took gold in the 46-kg division of the Women's World Boxing Tournament in Tønsberg, Norway from 27 April to 2 May 2004, defeating Derya Aktop of Turkey by RSCO-2 in the semi-final and Xia Li of China by RSCO-2 in the final.
She was also the Witch Cup Tournament champion in Hungary in 2004.
At the August 2004 Asian Women's Boxing Championships in Taiwan she defeated Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines 35-11 in the 46-kg final.
She successfully defended her 46-kg world title at the Third AIBA Women's World Championships held from 25 September to 2 October 2005 in Podolsk, Russia. She won the final by a 28-13 score over Jong Ok of North Korea, who had reached the finals with a 22-20 decision over Gretchen Abaniel of the Philippines. Kom had defeated Elena Sabitova of Russia 31-16 in her semi-final and Nancy Fortin of Canada 30-13 in her preliminary. While she saw her repeat win as great progress, she expressed admiration for the Russians, who won the team event.
On 19–22 October 2006 at the Venus Box Cup in Vejle, Denmark, Mary Kom won by RSCO-2 over Sofie Molholr of Denmark in the 46-kg semi-final and defeated Steluta Duta of Romania by retirement in the third round. Duta had defeated Valeria Calabrese of Italy RSCI-2 to reach the final and had also won the 46-kg division of the Ahmet Comert Tournament in 2006 with a RSCO-2 over Derya Aktop of Turkey (Merykom did not compete in that tournament.)
On 23 November 2006 at the AIBA World Championships at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India Mary Kom again won the 46-kg division - this time with a 22-7 decision over her Venus Box Cup final opponent Steluta Duta of Romania. Mary Kom kept the Romanian on the defensive for most of the bout, then celebrated her win with a demonstration of Manipuri folk dance in the ring. Duta reached the final with a RSCO-2 win over Boranbayeva Zalgul of Kazakhstan in the semi.
In New Delhi, Mary Kom had previously defeated Jong Ok of North Korea 20-8 in the semi-final, and Chandrike Geruga of Sri Lanka by RSCO-2 in the quarter-final after a bye in the preliminary round. She began the tournament with a cough and fever (and was unable to take any medication because of the doping test) but she still performed well enough to lead Chandrike Geruga 13-3 after one round, and the bout was stopped in the second with Mary Kom ahead 19-4.
Achievements
- Boxing Champion (Women PIN Weight 46 kg Category)
- Founder, MC Mary Kom Boxing Academy (Girls), A/112, Games Village, Imphal 2006
National
- Gold - Ist Women Nat. Boxing Championship, Chennai 6-12.2.2001
- The East Open Boxing Champ, Bengal 11-14.12.2001
- 2nd Sr World Women Boxing Championship, New Delhi 26-30.12.2001
- National Women Sort Meet, N. Delhi 26-30.12.2001
- 32nd National Games, Hyderabad 2002
- 3rd Sr World Women Boxing Champ, Aizawl 4-8.3.2003
- 4th Sr WWBC, Kokrajar, Assam 24-28.2.2004
- 5th Sr WWBC, Kerala 26-30.12.2004
- 6th Sr WWBC, Jamshedpur 29 Nov-3.12.2005
- 10th WNBC, Jamshedpur lost QF by 1-4 on 5.10.2009
International
- Ist Asian Women Boxing Championship (AWBC), Bangkok 2001
- 2nd AWBC, Hissar, Haryana 19-22.11.2003
- 3rd AWBC, Kaohsing City, Taiwan 5-12.8.2005
- Silver medal - 2001 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships2001 Women's World Amateur Boxing ChampionshipsThe 2001 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships was an international women's boxing competition hosted by the United States from October 21 to 27 2001 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was the first championship.-Results:...
, Scranton, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA. - Gold medal - 2002 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships2002 Women's World Amateur Boxing ChampionshipsThe 2002 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships was an international women's boxing competition hosted by Turkey from October 21 to 27 2002 in Antalya. It was the 2nd championship, which debuted 2001 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA.-Results:...
, AntalyaAntalyaAntalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. - Gold medal - 2005 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships2005 Women's World Amateur Boxing ChampionshipsThe 2005 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships was an international women's boxing competition hosted by Russia from September 25 to October 2, 2005 in Podolsk...
, PodolskPodolskPodolsk is an industrial city and the administrative center of Podolsky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia. It is located on the Pakhra River...
, RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. - Gold medal - 2006 World Women's Boxing Championship2006 World Women's Boxing ChampionshipThe 2006 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships was an international women's boxing competition hosted by India from November 18 to November 23, 2006 in New Delhi...
, New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. - Ist WWB Tournament, Norway 2004
- Venus Cup International Women Box Tourn, Vejla (Denmark ) 8-23.10.2006
- Gold medal - 2008 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship2008 AIBA Women's World Boxing ChampionshipThe 2008 AIBA Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships was an international women's boxing competition hosted by China from November 22 to 29, 2008 in Ningbo City...
, NingboNingboNingbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. - Gold medal - Asian Women's Boxing Championship, Astana, Kazakhstan.
- Bronze medal - 2010 Asian Games2010 Asian GamesThe 2010 Asian Games, also known as the XVI Asiad, was a multi-sport event celebrated in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to November 27, 2010. Guangzhou was the second Chinese city to host the Games, after Beijing in 1990...
, GuangzhouGuangzhouGuangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
, ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... - Gold medal - 2010 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championship, BarbadosBarbadosBarbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
.
Awards
- Arjuna Award (Boxing) 2004
- Padma Shree (Sports) 2006
- Contender for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award 2007
- People of the Year- Limca Book of Records 2007
- CNN-IBN ‘Real Heroes’ Award 14.4. 2008 Mon
- Pepsi MTV Youth Icon 2008 23.12.2008 Tue
- ‘Magnificent Mary’, AIBA 2008
- Felicitation by Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF) at New Lamka YPA Hall 17.12.2008 Wed
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna 29.8.2009 Sat, New Delhi (27.7.2009 Wed)
- Int’l Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing 2009 (TSE 30.7.2009 Thur)
- Sportswoman of the year 2010, Sahara Sports Award 2010
On August 29, 2009 she was selected for the India's highest sporting honour, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award alongside boxer Vijender Singh and wrestler Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar
Sushil Kumar may refer to:*Sushil Kumar , Indian wrestler*Sushil Kumar , former Indian Chief of Naval Staff...
.
External links
- Mary Kom - Official Website
- Mary Kom - Biography
- MC Marykom, MTV Youth Icon