Mary Kom Quotes, Life, Medals and Awards
Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte (born March 1st 1983) is a living legend and Indian Olympic Boxer from Manipur.
Mary Kom was nicknamed ‘Magnificient Mary’ being the only woman boxer to qualify for the Summer Olympics. Also, she is the only woman boxer who won a medal in each one of the first seven world championships. Here she won the bronze medal in the 51 kg category competing in the flyweight.
In 2014 Asian Games she was the first woman boxer to have won a Gold Medal in South Korea. Also, she was the first woman to win a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She stands out as being the only boxer to achieve the title of Asian Amateur Boxing Champion for a record five times.
17 Mary Kom Quotes on Boxing – Famous and Inspirational
I have selected the most Powerful and Famous Mary Kom Quotes for you to inspire and share with people in your life who you think need motivation:
1. “I do not rely on my technique or strength but also on my mind.” – Mary Kom
2. “Never buy gold, simply earn it.” – Mary Kom
3. “The world today is full of distractions in almost every form and if you fail to notice and overcome them, you will end up nowhere or somewhere less preferred.” – Mary Kom
3. “People used to say that boxing is for men and not for women and I thought I will show them someday. I promised myself and I proved myself.” – Mary Kom
4. “A country like India has a lot of potential. I end with the hope that we will build on that. My life is my message: nothing is impossible.” – Mary Kom
5. “In a sportsperson’s life, the pressure is always there; you have to learn to deal with it.” – Mary Kom
6. “Whether or not I look ‘Indian’ I am Indian and I represent India, with pride and all my heart.” – Mary Kom
7. “I had no support, no opportunity, no sponsor backing me for most of my career.” – Mary Kom
Mary Kom Quotes
8. “Don’t let anyone tell you you are weak because you are a woman.” – Mary Kom
9. “I realise the hardships I faced in my formative years are the foundation of my strength.” – Mary Kom
10. “It has been a tough journey. I carried on with the support of family and friends. Despite the loss today, I am satisfied with the way I performed.” – Mary Kom
11. “If I being a mother of two, can win a medal, so can you all. Take me as an example and don’t give up.” – Mary Kom
12. “Everyone is scared and asking me questions if I am going to quit. I want to tell them that don’t worry, I am not retiring and will continue.” – Mary Kom
13. “In spite of our penury and deprivation, we did not ever lose faith in God. If anything, God was the force that kept us going, fighting and hoping for better times.” – Mary Kom
14. “Don’t give up as there is always the next time.” – Mary Kom
15. “Hard times have abandoned you, good times lie in wait for you.” – Mary Kom
16. “I expect racial discrimination to reduce as our people win medals for the country.” – Mary Kom
17. “With a bandage over my eye, I happily set off to play marbles with my friends – it was perfect for taking aim.” – Mary Kom
Mary Kom – Early Life and career
Mary Kom hailed from a humble family with a very limited income. Her parents were rice farmers. Her father was a keen wrestler when he was young. Interestingly, when Kom was in her Grade VI of school, she developed her interest in athletics starting with javelin and 400 meters running.
Her life took a turn when a fellow from Manipur Dingko Singh returned from Bangkok Asian games 1998 with a gold medal. However, along with many others, she too got inspired to switch from Athletes and to take up boxing as a sport in 2000.
At the young age of 15, she left her hometown to study at Sports Academy in the state capital Imphal.
You will be surprised to know her father was against her pursuing boxing as a career and she kept it a secret from him. Because her father feared that boxing would hurt Mary Kom’s face and leave her unfit for marriage. He only got to know about her boxing career when he happened to see her picture in a newspaper when she won the state boxing championship in 2000. It was only after three years of this incident that her father started supporting Kom’s boxing career and got convinced of her career choice.
Mary Kom is married to the footballer Karung Onkholer (Onler). But, she continued to pursue boxing after a short break when she gave birth to her twin boys in 2007. She gave birth to another son in 2013.
Mary is unstoppable as she continues to win medals even today
- Silver Medal in 2008 Asian Women’s Boxing Championship in India
- 4th Successive Gold Medal in 2008 at AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship, China.
- Gold Medal in 2009 at Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam.
- She won the honour of bearing the Queen’s Baton in its opening ceremony run in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
- She won her 1st Gold Medal at the Asian Games in 2014, South Korea in the flyweight 951kg) summit clash.
- Clinching the unprecedented 5th Gold medal 948kg) at the ASBC Asian Confederation women’s boxing championship at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Earned a gold medal in the Women’s light flyweight 48 kg on 2008 Commonwealth Games. - In 2018 she created history by becoming the first woman to win 6 World Championships by winning 10th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India.
- She is currently preparing for 202 Tokyo Olympics.
Awards and recognitions
Her list of awards and recognition is long:
Mary Kom set a new standard in amateur boxing without ever competing in professional boxing. Moreover, in 2015, Kom became the first amateur to surpass several professional athletes in India in earnings, endorsements and awards. Also, she is the first amateur athlete to win the Padma Bhushan.
- Mary Kom was awarded the first AIBA Legends awards for “promising boxing career” by The International Boxing Association (AIBA)
- Kom became the Brand Ambassador for 2016 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships announced by the International Boxing Association (AIBA)
- She was conferred by the Arjuna Award (Boxing) in 2003
- Padma Shri (Sports) in 2006
- People of the Year Limca Book of Records in 2007
- CNN-IBN & Reliance Industries Real Heroes Award in 2008
- Pepsi MTV Youth Icon in 2008
- Was titled ‘Magnificent Mary’ at AIBA 2008
- Awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009
- Got the International Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing in 2009
- Sahara Sports Award made her the Sportswoman of the year 2010
- She was conferred the Padma Bhushan (Sports) in 2013
- Also Olympians for Life by WOA
- Honorary Doctorate degree (D.Litt) from North-Eastern Hill University on 29 March 2016 and (DPhil) from Kaziranga University on 14 January 2019
Related Articles:
Why is Crying so Good for the Mind and Soul
How to Overcome Addiction by treating Instant Gratification on your own
Albert Einstein Quotes About Life Love and Education
How to sit in Meditation Postures – Cross-legged or on a Chair
