India's Magnificent Mary Kom Wins First Gold Medal At Asian Games
Woman Power: India's Magnificent Mary Kom Wins First Gold Medal At Asian Games
Indian boxing champion Mayr Kom won a historic gold medal on Day 12 of the Asian Games. She is currently ranked world number 5. Mary defeated Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan to win this gold medal, India's first in boxing this year at the Asian Games ending the dry spell for Indian boxers. India has won its seventh gold medal at Incheon with this win.
Kom was at her best in the final bout of the ladies flyweight event (48-51 kg division) . Shekerbekova could not hope to get past her. Mary put up a massive fight and used jabs and winning punches to drive the point home. Shekerbekova may have won the first round, but Mary fought back with verve and energy to bounce back into the game.
This is a tremendous achievement for Mary as well as Indian sports, especially boxing. Mary won the next three rounds after losing the first one to Shekeberkova who is 6 years younger than her. The 31 year old Indian boxing champion fought with her superior expertise and training to make a mark in her sport.
The 31 year old boxing champion used her 14 years of experience and skill to counter the Kazhak player and win the game. Claiming top honours in the event, the Indian player did the country proud. Mary is a 5 time world champion and she had declared she would aim for the gold. Holding true to her promise, Mary had won an important honour for the country as well.
She had been quoted as saying she would be satisfied with nothing less than gold this time and she had shown the grit and determination that comes with being a true sports star. Leading celebrities and fans alike have praised her efforts and supported Mary.
Coming from a humble background in the north eastern Indian state of Manipur, Mary had the courage to follow her dream of being a boxing star even as others tried to deter her. Before she entered into the world of boxing, Mary also tried to take up track and field. Her inspiration was fellow Manipuri, Dingko Singh who won the gold at the Bangkok 1998 Asian Games Media reports also cite one of her idols being the well known and legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
Mary is known as one of the top players in the boxing scene in India and the world. Her autobiography is entitled Unbreakable and it is this title that her celebrity fans too have conferred on her too for her undaunted spirit. Mary won the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in the year 2009 which was followed by the third highest civilian award in 2013, the Padma Bhushan.
She has also started the Mary Kom Boxing Academy in Manipur to help underprivileged children get a fighting chance at the sport and become a success to inspire others. Mary Kom is a legend in the sport world and her unique achievement is one among many honours.
