Mary (Magnificent) Kom

Mary Kom highlights

M.C. Mary Kom, popularly known as "Magnificent Mary" won the first ever boxing gold for India at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on October 1, 2014. The five-time World Champion has punched her way to earn 13 yellow metals so far in her illustrious career.

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (born 1 March 1983), also known as MC Mary Kom, or simply Mary Kom, is an Indian boxer. She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. Nicknamed "Magnificent Mary", she is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning the bronze medal. She has also been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's Ranking Flyweight category.

Kom co-wrote an auto-biography called Unbreakable (2013) and was portrayed by Priyanka Chopra in the film Mary Kom (2014). Kom also has started a female-only fight club at Imphal to teach girls to defend themselves against sexual violence in India. To spread her academy all over the country Mary Kom wants Priyanka Chopra to become its brand ambassador.

Kom was born in Kangathei, in Churachandpur district of Manipur. Her parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, worked in jhum fields. She completed her primary education from Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang, up to her class VI standard and attended St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang, up to class VIII. She then moved to Adimjati High School, Imphal, for her schooling for class IX and X, but was unable to pass the matriculation exam. Not wishing to reappear for them, she quit her school and gave her examination from NIOS, Imphal and graduation from Churachandpur College.

Although she had a keen interest in athletics from childhood, it was the success of Dingko Singh that inspired her to become a boxer in 2000. She started her training under the close eye of M. Narjit Singh, Manipur State Boxing Coach at Khuman Lampak,Imphal.

She is married to K. Onler Kom and has twin sons, Rechungvar and Khupneivar. They first met in 2001 when Kom was at New Delhi on her way to National Games in Punjab while Onler was studying at Delhi University. They married in 2005 after 4 years of dating. In 2013,she gave birth to her third baby boy and has named him Prince Chungthanglen Kom.

Source: Wikipedia

India's Mary Kom (in Red) is declared winner in the final bout of women's flyweight boxing at the Asian Games in Incheon on October 1, 2014. Photo: PTI

Boxer Mary Kom holds the Tricolor as she celebrates her 'golden' win in women's flyweight (48-51kg) category at the Incheon Asian Games. Photo: PTI

Mary Kom defeated Vietnam's Le Thi Bang in the semifinal match at the Asian Games in Incheon on September 30, 2014. Photo: PTI

In this Aug. 22, 2012 file photo, India's London Olympic bronze medal winner in boxing M.C. Mary Kom speaks at an event celebrating her victory, in Bangalore. The cricket-crazy country has been improving in the Olympic sport of boxing due to more exposure in international competition. Photo: AP

Mary Kom kisses her child after winning her round of 16 bout against Kim Yeji of Korea in Incheon on September 27, 2014. The 31-year-old champion is a mother of three, including twin sons She is married to K. Onler Kom. Photo: PTI

Boxers Mary Kom and L.Sarita Devi practice during a training camp for the upcoming Incheon Asian games, in New Delhi on September 09, 2014. While Mary Kom won the first boxing gold for India, Sarita Devi lost a controversial bout against the Korean opponent Jina Park and she refused to accept the bronze medal awarded to her. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Mary Kom, a five-time world champion, had won several medals in the 46 and 48 kg categories. She was forced to shift to this category and gain weight two years ago after the world body decided to allow women’s boxing in only three weight categories -- the lowest one being 51 kg. Photo: Special Arrangement

Reel 'Mary Kom' Priyanka Chopra with the real Mary Kom during a promotion of her biopic in Mumbai. Kom co-wrote an auto-biography called Unbreakable in the year 2013, which was made into a Hindi movie the next year. Photo: PTI

Mary Kom celebrates her bronze medal in boxing of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium. Photo: PTI

President Pranab Mukherjee felicitates Olympic bronze medalist boxer M.C. Mary Kom during a felicitation ceremony in New Delhi on August 18, 2012. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

In this June 14, 2012 Mother of three Mary Kom, otherwise known as "Magnificent Mary", practices hard for the Olympic Games. Although she had a keen interest in athletics from childhood, it was the success of Dingko Singh that inspired her to become a boxer in 2000. She started her training under the close eye of M. Narjit Singh, Manipur State Boxing Coach at Khuman Lampak,Imphal. Photo: AP

Mary Kom receives Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award from the then President of India Pratibha Patil at the Sports and Adventure Awards 2009 presentation function in New Delhi on August 29, 2009. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

Boxer Mary Kom with her twin sons Rechungvar and Khupneivar at an event in Mumbai. Mary Kom was awarded Arjuna Award in 2003; Padma Shree in 2010 and Padma Bhushan in 2013. Photo: PTI