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This could be the last time we will see Mary Kom competing in a big International tournament at the Tokyo Olympics. Manipur’s little but fierce boxer has long been India’s pride. The Manipuri boxer, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, is seeking a golden goodbye after winning the World Championship more than six times.
Against all odds, she made history in 2001 when she competed in the World Boxing Championships for Women. Despite having no prior experience, the young teenager, who was only 19 years old at the time, earned a remarkable silver medal. Mary Kom had already made India proud long before Vijender Singh won bronze at the 2009 World Championships.
The Manipuri boxer has 8 World Championship medals, 7 Asian Championships medals, and 1 Olympic bronze medal to her name.
Mary Kom made an enthralling debut in the London Olympics in 2012. Winning a bronze medal in the flyweight category on her very first attempt. She was knocked out in a match with local boxer Nicola Adams, who went on to become the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the flyweight division.
For Mary Kom, age is just a number. She was 37 years old when she made history by winning the first medal in her Olympic category [flyweight] in the World Championships. Mary Kom won a historic bronze medal by defeating Turkish boxer Buse Naz Cakiroglu in the semifinals.
Mary Kom can still convert the impossible become reality. In her age and circumstances, she just earned a silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2021, which is nothing short of incredible. Mary Kom has a good opportunity of winning a historic gold medal with no established competitors in her way.