Mary Kom: The top five performances by the star boxer
The 38-year-old boxer is gearing up for Tokyo 2020 in a bid to win her second Olympic medal
From an Olympic medal to World Championship crowns, MC Mary Kom has won it all. She is the only Indian to win a gold in Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games and there's hardly any international tournament of fame that she has not conquered.
In 2016, the President of India nominated her as a Rajya Sabha member, recognising her contributions to the sport. In 2018, she was conferred the title of 'Meethoi Leima' which means 'an exceptional lady' in Manipuri. However, the jewel in her crown remains the Padma Vibushan, India's second-highest civilian award, she received in 2020.
Kom qualified for Tokyo 2020 by reaching the Asian Qualifier's semifinal with a comfortable win over Philippines’ Irish Magno in Jordan.
Let us take a look at five of the best fights in Mary Kom's career.
Fourth World Championship (2008)
The Manipuri boxer had to stay away from boxing for almost two years after she gave birth to twins following her third World Championship gold in New Delhi. Mary Kom returned to compete at the Asian Championship in September 2008 but had to settle for a silver. Hence, it was important for her to reassert her authority as the best in her category.
In the finals, she met Romania's Steluta Duta, an opponent that she had beaten to win her third world title. The Indian went on the offensive from the get go. Her combination punches were timed and placed perfectly and she won the match 7-1. Following this win, AIBA (International Boxing Association) hailed her as 'Magnificent Mary'.
London Olympics (2012)
Women's boxing debut as an Olympic sport was at the London Games in 2012. Mary Kom had to jump weight categories to be eligible to compete and hence was in for some tough competition. In the first round, she won 19-14 against a taller opponent in Karolina Michalczuk of Poland to secure a berth in the last-eight.
In the quarters, she found herself in a bit of trouble against Tunisia's Maroua Rahali. But the Indian used her experience and bounced right back into the match as two right hooks from her unnerved her opponent. This win sealed a place for her in the semi-finals and also guaranteed an Olympic medal.
However, against local girl Nicola Adams, she could not bring her A game and had to settle for a bronze.
"I am sorry I could not win the gold medal. But I am happy with the Olympic medal that has been a dream for long,” MC Mary Kom said.
Asian Games, Incheon (2014)
Mary Kom became the first Indian woman boxer to clinch gold at the Asian Games in 2014 after beating Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova in the flyweight (51kg) category. It was one of her toughest fights and the Indian started the match on the back foot. She was maintaining a distance from her opponent and allowed Zhaina to attack so that she could hit on the counter.
However, the trap did not work and the Kazakh back-pedaled soon after landing her punch. Mary Kom had to step out of her shell in the final minute to make up the deficit and she did it to perfection. In the second and third round, she started attacking and with hooks and uppercuts, demolishing her opponent 2-0 to win her first gold at the Asian Games.
Sixth World Championship (2018)
Mary Kom attracted worldwide attention on November 24, 2018, as she stood on the cusp of history. The KD Jadhav Hall at the Indira Gandhi National Stadium in New Delhi was chock-a-block and chants of 'Mary, Mary' echoed around the stadium. And Mary Kom, stepped into the ring to fight against a 22-year-old Ukrainian Hanna Okhota.
It was a fascinating contest with both boxers relying on counter-punches rather than going on the offensive.
Turns, feints, and short exchanges dominated the opening bout. But in the final 45 seconds, Mary Kom overwhelmed her opponent with a fierce five-punch combination to win the round. Her fleet foot helped her against a much younger opponent and she won 5-0 to become the first female boxer to win six world championships.
Commonwealth Games (2018)
It was Mary Kom's maiden Commonwealth Games and back in India, the boxing fraternity was expecting nothing short of gold.
In the finals, she faced Northern Ireland's Kristina O'Hara and the difference in quality was apparent right from the start. The 22-year-old had no chance against the veteran as the Indian landed punches throughout. In the end, she won the match by a unanimous decision of 5-0.