10 Key Facts About the Life and Boxing Career of Mary Kom

Born on November 24, 1982, in Kangathei village, Manipur, India, Mary Kom comes from a humble background with her parents working as tenant farmers.

Inspired by Indian boxer Dingko Singh, Mary Kom started boxing in 2000. Despite her family's initial resistance, she pursued her passion for the sport secretly.

Mary Kom trained under coach M. Narjit Singh at Imphal's Sports Authority of India. She quickly made a mark by winning the Manipur state women's boxing championship in 2000.

Mary Kom won her first World Amateur Boxing Championship gold in 2002 in Antalya, Turkey. She went on to win a total of six World Championships (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2018).

Mary Kom won a bronze medal in the flyweight category at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal.

She won gold medals in the 2014 Asian Games and the 2018 Commonwealth Games, adding to her impressive list of international achievements.

Mary Kom is the only woman to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times and the only boxer to have won a medal in each of the seven world championships. She has received awards like the Padma Vibushan (2020), Padma Bhushan (2013), Padma Shri (2006), and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2009).

Mary Kom married K. Onler Kom in 2005, and they have three sons. She balances her professional career with her role as a mother and wife, with her family being a significant source of support.

In 2016, Mary Kom was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament, and served till 2022. She was actively involved in advocating for sports and various social causes.

Known as a trailblazer for women in sports, Mary Kom's journey from a small village to becoming a world champion has inspired countless young athletes. Her autobiography, "Unbreakable," published in 2013, shares her struggles and triumphs, motivating aspiring sportspeople.