Textbook: Unbeatable Super Mom-Mary Kom

 Page 1


Unbeatable Super Mom - Mary Kom
Mary Kom : Chungneijang Mary Kom was born on 24
th
 November, 1982. 
Better known as Mary Kom, she is an Olympic Indian boxer hailing from the Kom 
tribe in Manipur. She is a six time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only 
woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, she is the only Indian woman boxer to 
have qualified for the summer 2012 Olympics competing in the flyweight (51 Kg) 
category and winning the bronze medal.
There had to be one successful story if Indians 
were to survive in sports and we have that story now. 
Enough has been said about this great warrior who 
conquered the world. This warrior is none other than 
Mary Mangte Kom - the Komqueror and the Komrade. 
She is famed as a five times World Boxing Champion 
and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of 
the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, 
she became the first Indian woman boxer to qualify 
and win a bronze medal in the 51 Kg flyweight 
category of Boxing.
Kom was born in Kangthei village, Moirang 
Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in 
eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her 
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom 
were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Kom 
grew up in humble surroundings, helping her parents 
with farm related chores, going to school and learning 
athletics initially and later boxing simultaneously. Her 
father was a keen wrestler in his younger age.
She had an eager interest in athletics since 
childhood and the success of Dingko Singh a fellow 
Manipuri, who returned from the 1998 Bangkok Asian 
games with a gold medal, Kom recollects, had inspired 
many youngsters in Manipur to try boxing and she too 
thought of giving it a try.
Mary Kom’s career started in 2000 after her 
victory in the Manipur State Women’s Boxing 
Championship and the regional championship in West 
Bengal. In 2001, she started competing at international 
ö? What was Mary 
Kom’s exceptional 
achievement ?
ö? What has added to 
her greatness as a 
boxing champion ?
ö ? How did Kom’s 
parents make a 
living ?
l jhum : farming, 
shifting cultivation
l humble 
surroundings : simple 
and poor conditions
129
Page 2


Unbeatable Super Mom - Mary Kom
Mary Kom : Chungneijang Mary Kom was born on 24
th
 November, 1982. 
Better known as Mary Kom, she is an Olympic Indian boxer hailing from the Kom 
tribe in Manipur. She is a six time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only 
woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, she is the only Indian woman boxer to 
have qualified for the summer 2012 Olympics competing in the flyweight (51 Kg) 
category and winning the bronze medal.
There had to be one successful story if Indians 
were to survive in sports and we have that story now. 
Enough has been said about this great warrior who 
conquered the world. This warrior is none other than 
Mary Mangte Kom - the Komqueror and the Komrade. 
She is famed as a five times World Boxing Champion 
and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of 
the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, 
she became the first Indian woman boxer to qualify 
and win a bronze medal in the 51 Kg flyweight 
category of Boxing.
Kom was born in Kangthei village, Moirang 
Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in 
eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her 
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom 
were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Kom 
grew up in humble surroundings, helping her parents 
with farm related chores, going to school and learning 
athletics initially and later boxing simultaneously. Her 
father was a keen wrestler in his younger age.
She had an eager interest in athletics since 
childhood and the success of Dingko Singh a fellow 
Manipuri, who returned from the 1998 Bangkok Asian 
games with a gold medal, Kom recollects, had inspired 
many youngsters in Manipur to try boxing and she too 
thought of giving it a try.
Mary Kom’s career started in 2000 after her 
victory in the Manipur State Women’s Boxing 
Championship and the regional championship in West 
Bengal. In 2001, she started competing at international 
ö? What was Mary 
Kom’s exceptional 
achievement ?
ö? What has added to 
her greatness as a 
boxing champion ?
ö ? How did Kom’s 
parents make a 
living ?
l jhum : farming, 
shifting cultivation
l humble 
surroundings : simple 
and poor conditions
129
l debut : first public
appearance or
performance
l reinforced :
strengthened
l a legend : one who
makes history
level. She was only 18 years old when she made her 
international debut at the first AIBA Women’s World 
Boxing Championship in United States, winning a silver 
medal in the 48 kg weight category. Her greatness is 
reinforced by the way she apologised to the whole 
nation for not being able to win the Gold. She is a 
legend for sure and an idol for all the sportswomen to 
look up to.
AN INTERVIEW
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda 
correspondent Taruka Srivastava, Olympic Bronze 
medalist Mary Kom talked about her preparation for 
the Olympics and her elation at winning a medal.
Interviewer : First things first - you’re the first 
Indian female boxer to win an Olympics medal for 
India. Has the feeling completely sunk in ? 
Mary Kom : I am really happy with my 
achievement and yes it is yet to sink in. I am just so 
exhilarated.
Interviewer : You were the only female 
representative from India in boxing. Did that put 
additional pressure on you? 
Mary Kom : No, not at all. I was pretty confident 
about myself. I knew.
Interviewer : Your coach Charles Atkinson was 
not allowed to accompany you to the Olympics. How 
did that affect your preparations ? 
Mary Kom : Well, I did miss him there but 
thankfully, we had already done our homework and I 
was well prepared.
Interviewer : During your preparations for the 
Olympics, you sparred with the male boxers of the 
Indian contingent. Who was your favourite sparring 
partner ? 
Mary Kom : (Laughs) Well, I trained hard in 
Pune and the male boxers were kind enough to practise 
with me whenever I required them. To name a favourite 
would be unfair.
Interviewer : You were quoted saying “Adams 
was very clever, a counter - puncher but, although she 
l elation : great joy
l sunk in : realize and
accept
l sparring : motions
of boxing during
training, without
landing actual blows
l exhilarated : very
thrilled
ö? What failed to 
pressurize Mary Kom 
during the Olympics ?
130
Page 3


Unbeatable Super Mom - Mary Kom
Mary Kom : Chungneijang Mary Kom was born on 24
th
 November, 1982. 
Better known as Mary Kom, she is an Olympic Indian boxer hailing from the Kom 
tribe in Manipur. She is a six time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only 
woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, she is the only Indian woman boxer to 
have qualified for the summer 2012 Olympics competing in the flyweight (51 Kg) 
category and winning the bronze medal.
There had to be one successful story if Indians 
were to survive in sports and we have that story now. 
Enough has been said about this great warrior who 
conquered the world. This warrior is none other than 
Mary Mangte Kom - the Komqueror and the Komrade. 
She is famed as a five times World Boxing Champion 
and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of 
the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, 
she became the first Indian woman boxer to qualify 
and win a bronze medal in the 51 Kg flyweight 
category of Boxing.
Kom was born in Kangthei village, Moirang 
Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in 
eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her 
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom 
were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Kom 
grew up in humble surroundings, helping her parents 
with farm related chores, going to school and learning 
athletics initially and later boxing simultaneously. Her 
father was a keen wrestler in his younger age.
She had an eager interest in athletics since 
childhood and the success of Dingko Singh a fellow 
Manipuri, who returned from the 1998 Bangkok Asian 
games with a gold medal, Kom recollects, had inspired 
many youngsters in Manipur to try boxing and she too 
thought of giving it a try.
Mary Kom’s career started in 2000 after her 
victory in the Manipur State Women’s Boxing 
Championship and the regional championship in West 
Bengal. In 2001, she started competing at international 
ö? What was Mary 
Kom’s exceptional 
achievement ?
ö? What has added to 
her greatness as a 
boxing champion ?
ö ? How did Kom’s 
parents make a 
living ?
l jhum : farming, 
shifting cultivation
l humble 
surroundings : simple 
and poor conditions
129
l debut : first public
appearance or
performance
l reinforced :
strengthened
l a legend : one who
makes history
level. She was only 18 years old when she made her 
international debut at the first AIBA Women’s World 
Boxing Championship in United States, winning a silver 
medal in the 48 kg weight category. Her greatness is 
reinforced by the way she apologised to the whole 
nation for not being able to win the Gold. She is a 
legend for sure and an idol for all the sportswomen to 
look up to.
AN INTERVIEW
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda 
correspondent Taruka Srivastava, Olympic Bronze 
medalist Mary Kom talked about her preparation for 
the Olympics and her elation at winning a medal.
Interviewer : First things first - you’re the first 
Indian female boxer to win an Olympics medal for 
India. Has the feeling completely sunk in ? 
Mary Kom : I am really happy with my 
achievement and yes it is yet to sink in. I am just so 
exhilarated.
Interviewer : You were the only female 
representative from India in boxing. Did that put 
additional pressure on you? 
Mary Kom : No, not at all. I was pretty confident 
about myself. I knew.
Interviewer : Your coach Charles Atkinson was 
not allowed to accompany you to the Olympics. How 
did that affect your preparations ? 
Mary Kom : Well, I did miss him there but 
thankfully, we had already done our homework and I 
was well prepared.
Interviewer : During your preparations for the 
Olympics, you sparred with the male boxers of the 
Indian contingent. Who was your favourite sparring 
partner ? 
Mary Kom : (Laughs) Well, I trained hard in 
Pune and the male boxers were kind enough to practise 
with me whenever I required them. To name a favourite 
would be unfair.
Interviewer : You were quoted saying “Adams 
was very clever, a counter - puncher but, although she 
l elation : great joy
l sunk in : realize and
accept
l sparring : motions
of boxing during
training, without
landing actual blows
l exhilarated : very
thrilled
ö? What failed to 
pressurize Mary Kom 
during the Olympics ?
130
carried power, she wasn’t very tactical. I was scoring 
but the judges were not pressing the buttons.” Do you 
think dodgy judging was part of the reason for your 
loss in the semi - finals? 
Mary Kom : Yes, I think some of the decisions 
were unfortunate and did not work to my benefit. 
Interviewer : India managed just 6 medals in the 
2012 Olympics even though we are a nation of 1:3 
billion people. Where do you think a change is required 
to help us win medals that are proportionate with our 
population ?
Mary Kom : I think more and more people should 
take up sports as a full - time career if we want more 
gold medals. More corporates should come in and 
sponsor players so that the players don’t have any 
financial pressure and can just focus on their games.
Interviewer : Do you think interest in boxing in 
India will ever go beyond the Olympics ?
Mary Kom : Yes, I am sure that in a few years 
boxing will be very popular among everyone in India, 
all the year round.
Interviewer : How aware are Indian women of their 
nutritional requirements ? Diet and nutrition must’ve been 
a key factor in your conditioning for the Olympics. Do 
you think nutrition is a neglected area in Indian sports ?
Mary Kom : The awareness is growing now among 
the female athletes when it comes to nutritional 
requirements. Nutrition has definitely been a neglected 
area in Indian sports. I had to gain 3 kgs since I had 
to fight in the 51kg event instead of the usual 48kgs 
that I fight in. So I had to focus on what to eat. I 
gained weight by eating the right kind of healthy food 
rather than bad saturated fats.
Interviewer : How big a role did OGQ play in 
shaping the boxing scene in India for the better ?
Mary Kom : OGQ really played an important part 
in my success. They helped me out whenever I needed 
something. They took care of everything, which helped 
me focus on my boxing and kept me stress - free.
Interviewer : What’s your opinion on the future 
of Indian boxing ?
l corporates :
companies or
industries
l sponsor :
organization that pays
or aids sportsmen or
a sports event
l conditioning :
becoming fit
l saturated fats :
unhealthy fats
l OGQ : Olympic
Gold Quest
ö? What did OGQ do for 
Mary Kom ?
ö? How did Mary Kom 
increase her weight ?
l tactical : planned
actions to gain
victory
l dodgy : unjust/partial
ö? What can help 
Indian Sportsmen to 
win more Olympic 
Medals ?
131
Page 4


Unbeatable Super Mom - Mary Kom
Mary Kom : Chungneijang Mary Kom was born on 24
th
 November, 1982. 
Better known as Mary Kom, she is an Olympic Indian boxer hailing from the Kom 
tribe in Manipur. She is a six time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only 
woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, she is the only Indian woman boxer to 
have qualified for the summer 2012 Olympics competing in the flyweight (51 Kg) 
category and winning the bronze medal.
There had to be one successful story if Indians 
were to survive in sports and we have that story now. 
Enough has been said about this great warrior who 
conquered the world. This warrior is none other than 
Mary Mangte Kom - the Komqueror and the Komrade. 
She is famed as a five times World Boxing Champion 
and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of 
the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, 
she became the first Indian woman boxer to qualify 
and win a bronze medal in the 51 Kg flyweight 
category of Boxing.
Kom was born in Kangthei village, Moirang 
Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in 
eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her 
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom 
were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Kom 
grew up in humble surroundings, helping her parents 
with farm related chores, going to school and learning 
athletics initially and later boxing simultaneously. Her 
father was a keen wrestler in his younger age.
She had an eager interest in athletics since 
childhood and the success of Dingko Singh a fellow 
Manipuri, who returned from the 1998 Bangkok Asian 
games with a gold medal, Kom recollects, had inspired 
many youngsters in Manipur to try boxing and she too 
thought of giving it a try.
Mary Kom’s career started in 2000 after her 
victory in the Manipur State Women’s Boxing 
Championship and the regional championship in West 
Bengal. In 2001, she started competing at international 
ö? What was Mary 
Kom’s exceptional 
achievement ?
ö? What has added to 
her greatness as a 
boxing champion ?
ö ? How did Kom’s 
parents make a 
living ?
l jhum : farming, 
shifting cultivation
l humble 
surroundings : simple 
and poor conditions
129
l debut : first public
appearance or
performance
l reinforced :
strengthened
l a legend : one who
makes history
level. She was only 18 years old when she made her 
international debut at the first AIBA Women’s World 
Boxing Championship in United States, winning a silver 
medal in the 48 kg weight category. Her greatness is 
reinforced by the way she apologised to the whole 
nation for not being able to win the Gold. She is a 
legend for sure and an idol for all the sportswomen to 
look up to.
AN INTERVIEW
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda 
correspondent Taruka Srivastava, Olympic Bronze 
medalist Mary Kom talked about her preparation for 
the Olympics and her elation at winning a medal.
Interviewer : First things first - you’re the first 
Indian female boxer to win an Olympics medal for 
India. Has the feeling completely sunk in ? 
Mary Kom : I am really happy with my 
achievement and yes it is yet to sink in. I am just so 
exhilarated.
Interviewer : You were the only female 
representative from India in boxing. Did that put 
additional pressure on you? 
Mary Kom : No, not at all. I was pretty confident 
about myself. I knew.
Interviewer : Your coach Charles Atkinson was 
not allowed to accompany you to the Olympics. How 
did that affect your preparations ? 
Mary Kom : Well, I did miss him there but 
thankfully, we had already done our homework and I 
was well prepared.
Interviewer : During your preparations for the 
Olympics, you sparred with the male boxers of the 
Indian contingent. Who was your favourite sparring 
partner ? 
Mary Kom : (Laughs) Well, I trained hard in 
Pune and the male boxers were kind enough to practise 
with me whenever I required them. To name a favourite 
would be unfair.
Interviewer : You were quoted saying “Adams 
was very clever, a counter - puncher but, although she 
l elation : great joy
l sunk in : realize and
accept
l sparring : motions
of boxing during
training, without
landing actual blows
l exhilarated : very
thrilled
ö? What failed to 
pressurize Mary Kom 
during the Olympics ?
130
carried power, she wasn’t very tactical. I was scoring 
but the judges were not pressing the buttons.” Do you 
think dodgy judging was part of the reason for your 
loss in the semi - finals? 
Mary Kom : Yes, I think some of the decisions 
were unfortunate and did not work to my benefit. 
Interviewer : India managed just 6 medals in the 
2012 Olympics even though we are a nation of 1:3 
billion people. Where do you think a change is required 
to help us win medals that are proportionate with our 
population ?
Mary Kom : I think more and more people should 
take up sports as a full - time career if we want more 
gold medals. More corporates should come in and 
sponsor players so that the players don’t have any 
financial pressure and can just focus on their games.
Interviewer : Do you think interest in boxing in 
India will ever go beyond the Olympics ?
Mary Kom : Yes, I am sure that in a few years 
boxing will be very popular among everyone in India, 
all the year round.
Interviewer : How aware are Indian women of their 
nutritional requirements ? Diet and nutrition must’ve been 
a key factor in your conditioning for the Olympics. Do 
you think nutrition is a neglected area in Indian sports ?
Mary Kom : The awareness is growing now among 
the female athletes when it comes to nutritional 
requirements. Nutrition has definitely been a neglected 
area in Indian sports. I had to gain 3 kgs since I had 
to fight in the 51kg event instead of the usual 48kgs 
that I fight in. So I had to focus on what to eat. I 
gained weight by eating the right kind of healthy food 
rather than bad saturated fats.
Interviewer : How big a role did OGQ play in 
shaping the boxing scene in India for the better ?
Mary Kom : OGQ really played an important part 
in my success. They helped me out whenever I needed 
something. They took care of everything, which helped 
me focus on my boxing and kept me stress - free.
Interviewer : What’s your opinion on the future 
of Indian boxing ?
l corporates :
companies or
industries
l sponsor :
organization that pays
or aids sportsmen or
a sports event
l conditioning :
becoming fit
l saturated fats :
unhealthy fats
l OGQ : Olympic
Gold Quest
ö? What did OGQ do for 
Mary Kom ?
ö? How did Mary Kom 
increase her weight ?
l tactical : planned
actions to gain
victory
l dodgy : unjust/partial
ö? What can help 
Indian Sportsmen to 
win more Olympic 
Medals ?
131
Mary Kom : The future is very bright and I am 
sure many more boxers will get medals for us. 
Interviewer : Do you find it difficult to convince 
your children not to fight when they watch you go out 
and do it in style all the time ?
Mary Kom : Well, I have twins and yes, sometimes 
it becomes really difficult to keep them under control.
Interviewer : Will you train your kids to become 
boxers as well ?
Mary Kom : I haven’t really thought about it. As 
of now, just let their mother box !
Interviewer : You have broken several stereotypes 
about the women in India by showing that women can 
compete with men in any field. But how good are you 
at the ‘traditional’ feminine activities like cooking ?
Mary Kom : Well, I am good at cooking and other 
household work too.
Interviewer : Would you be interested in coaching 
Indian women in boxing one day ?
Mary Kom : Let’s see. In the future, may be yes.
Interviewer : What do you prefer being 
called - Super Mom or Super Boxer ?
Mary Kom : I love being a mom. That’s the best 
thing that has ever happened to me. 
***
l stereotype : fixed 
ideas held as 
common standards
Awards and recognitions
•  Arjuna Award (Boxing) in 2003
•  Padma Shree (Sports) in 2006
•  Contender for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2007
•  People of the Year - Limca Book of Records  in 2007
•  CNN-IBN and Reliance Industries Real Heroes Award in 2008
•  Pepsi MTV Youth, AIBA in 2008
•  ‘Magnificent Mary’, AIBA in 2008
•  Felicitation by Zomi Student’s Federation (ZSF) at New Lamka YPA Hall in 
2008
•  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2009
•  International Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing in 2009
•  Sportswoman of the year, Sahara Sports Award in 2010
•  The first Indian Woman Boxer to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
ö? Is Mary Kom more 
proud of -being a 
boxer or a mother ?
132
Page 5


Unbeatable Super Mom - Mary Kom
Mary Kom : Chungneijang Mary Kom was born on 24
th
 November, 1982. 
Better known as Mary Kom, she is an Olympic Indian boxer hailing from the Kom 
tribe in Manipur. She is a six time World Amateur Boxing Champion, and the only 
woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships.
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, she is the only Indian woman boxer to 
have qualified for the summer 2012 Olympics competing in the flyweight (51 Kg) 
category and winning the bronze medal.
There had to be one successful story if Indians 
were to survive in sports and we have that story now. 
Enough has been said about this great warrior who 
conquered the world. This warrior is none other than 
Mary Mangte Kom - the Komqueror and the Komrade. 
She is famed as a five times World Boxing Champion 
and the only boxer to win a medal in every one of 
the six world championships. In the 2012 Olympics, 
she became the first Indian woman boxer to qualify 
and win a bronze medal in the 51 Kg flyweight 
category of Boxing.
Kom was born in Kangthei village, Moirang 
Lamkhai in Churachandpur district of rural Manipur in 
eastern India. She came from a poor family. Her 
parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom 
were tenant farmers who worked in jhum fields. Kom 
grew up in humble surroundings, helping her parents 
with farm related chores, going to school and learning 
athletics initially and later boxing simultaneously. Her 
father was a keen wrestler in his younger age.
She had an eager interest in athletics since 
childhood and the success of Dingko Singh a fellow 
Manipuri, who returned from the 1998 Bangkok Asian 
games with a gold medal, Kom recollects, had inspired 
many youngsters in Manipur to try boxing and she too 
thought of giving it a try.
Mary Kom’s career started in 2000 after her 
victory in the Manipur State Women’s Boxing 
Championship and the regional championship in West 
Bengal. In 2001, she started competing at international 
ö? What was Mary 
Kom’s exceptional 
achievement ?
ö? What has added to 
her greatness as a 
boxing champion ?
ö ? How did Kom’s 
parents make a 
living ?
l jhum : farming, 
shifting cultivation
l humble 
surroundings : simple 
and poor conditions
129
l debut : first public
appearance or
performance
l reinforced :
strengthened
l a legend : one who
makes history
level. She was only 18 years old when she made her 
international debut at the first AIBA Women’s World 
Boxing Championship in United States, winning a silver 
medal in the 48 kg weight category. Her greatness is 
reinforced by the way she apologised to the whole 
nation for not being able to win the Gold. She is a 
legend for sure and an idol for all the sportswomen to 
look up to.
AN INTERVIEW
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda 
correspondent Taruka Srivastava, Olympic Bronze 
medalist Mary Kom talked about her preparation for 
the Olympics and her elation at winning a medal.
Interviewer : First things first - you’re the first 
Indian female boxer to win an Olympics medal for 
India. Has the feeling completely sunk in ? 
Mary Kom : I am really happy with my 
achievement and yes it is yet to sink in. I am just so 
exhilarated.
Interviewer : You were the only female 
representative from India in boxing. Did that put 
additional pressure on you? 
Mary Kom : No, not at all. I was pretty confident 
about myself. I knew.
Interviewer : Your coach Charles Atkinson was 
not allowed to accompany you to the Olympics. How 
did that affect your preparations ? 
Mary Kom : Well, I did miss him there but 
thankfully, we had already done our homework and I 
was well prepared.
Interviewer : During your preparations for the 
Olympics, you sparred with the male boxers of the 
Indian contingent. Who was your favourite sparring 
partner ? 
Mary Kom : (Laughs) Well, I trained hard in 
Pune and the male boxers were kind enough to practise 
with me whenever I required them. To name a favourite 
would be unfair.
Interviewer : You were quoted saying “Adams 
was very clever, a counter - puncher but, although she 
l elation : great joy
l sunk in : realize and
accept
l sparring : motions
of boxing during
training, without
landing actual blows
l exhilarated : very
thrilled
ö? What failed to 
pressurize Mary Kom 
during the Olympics ?
130
carried power, she wasn’t very tactical. I was scoring 
but the judges were not pressing the buttons.” Do you 
think dodgy judging was part of the reason for your 
loss in the semi - finals? 
Mary Kom : Yes, I think some of the decisions 
were unfortunate and did not work to my benefit. 
Interviewer : India managed just 6 medals in the 
2012 Olympics even though we are a nation of 1:3 
billion people. Where do you think a change is required 
to help us win medals that are proportionate with our 
population ?
Mary Kom : I think more and more people should 
take up sports as a full - time career if we want more 
gold medals. More corporates should come in and 
sponsor players so that the players don’t have any 
financial pressure and can just focus on their games.
Interviewer : Do you think interest in boxing in 
India will ever go beyond the Olympics ?
Mary Kom : Yes, I am sure that in a few years 
boxing will be very popular among everyone in India, 
all the year round.
Interviewer : How aware are Indian women of their 
nutritional requirements ? Diet and nutrition must’ve been 
a key factor in your conditioning for the Olympics. Do 
you think nutrition is a neglected area in Indian sports ?
Mary Kom : The awareness is growing now among 
the female athletes when it comes to nutritional 
requirements. Nutrition has definitely been a neglected 
area in Indian sports. I had to gain 3 kgs since I had 
to fight in the 51kg event instead of the usual 48kgs 
that I fight in. So I had to focus on what to eat. I 
gained weight by eating the right kind of healthy food 
rather than bad saturated fats.
Interviewer : How big a role did OGQ play in 
shaping the boxing scene in India for the better ?
Mary Kom : OGQ really played an important part 
in my success. They helped me out whenever I needed 
something. They took care of everything, which helped 
me focus on my boxing and kept me stress - free.
Interviewer : What’s your opinion on the future 
of Indian boxing ?
l corporates :
companies or
industries
l sponsor :
organization that pays
or aids sportsmen or
a sports event
l conditioning :
becoming fit
l saturated fats :
unhealthy fats
l OGQ : Olympic
Gold Quest
ö? What did OGQ do for 
Mary Kom ?
ö? How did Mary Kom 
increase her weight ?
l tactical : planned
actions to gain
victory
l dodgy : unjust/partial
ö? What can help 
Indian Sportsmen to 
win more Olympic 
Medals ?
131
Mary Kom : The future is very bright and I am 
sure many more boxers will get medals for us. 
Interviewer : Do you find it difficult to convince 
your children not to fight when they watch you go out 
and do it in style all the time ?
Mary Kom : Well, I have twins and yes, sometimes 
it becomes really difficult to keep them under control.
Interviewer : Will you train your kids to become 
boxers as well ?
Mary Kom : I haven’t really thought about it. As 
of now, just let their mother box !
Interviewer : You have broken several stereotypes 
about the women in India by showing that women can 
compete with men in any field. But how good are you 
at the ‘traditional’ feminine activities like cooking ?
Mary Kom : Well, I am good at cooking and other 
household work too.
Interviewer : Would you be interested in coaching 
Indian women in boxing one day ?
Mary Kom : Let’s see. In the future, may be yes.
Interviewer : What do you prefer being 
called - Super Mom or Super Boxer ?
Mary Kom : I love being a mom. That’s the best 
thing that has ever happened to me. 
***
l stereotype : fixed 
ideas held as 
common standards
Awards and recognitions
•  Arjuna Award (Boxing) in 2003
•  Padma Shree (Sports) in 2006
•  Contender for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2007
•  People of the Year - Limca Book of Records  in 2007
•  CNN-IBN and Reliance Industries Real Heroes Award in 2008
•  Pepsi MTV Youth, AIBA in 2008
•  ‘Magnificent Mary’, AIBA in 2008
•  Felicitation by Zomi Student’s Federation (ZSF) at New Lamka YPA Hall in 
2008
•  Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award in 2009
•  International Boxing Association’s Ambassador for Women’s Boxing in 2009
•  Sportswoman of the year, Sahara Sports Award in 2010
•  The first Indian Woman Boxer to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
ö? Is Mary Kom more 
proud of -being a 
boxer or a mother ?
132
1. Choose the correct alternative and underline it.
(a) What is included in the text?
(i) story  (ii) speech  (iii) interview  (iv) poem
(b) Which State does Mary Kom belong to ?
(i) Maharashtra  (ii) Tamil Nadu  (iii) Kerala  (iv) Manipur
(c) Who inspired Mary Kom and other youngsters in Manipur to choose boxing as
a career ?
(i) Dingko Singh  (ii) Charles Atkinson  (iii) Mangte Tonpa Kom  (iv) Adams
(d) What does Mary Kom prefer being called ?
(i) Super mom (ii) Super boxer  (iii) Super woman  (iv) Super being
2. Go through the text again and find out the name of cities and their importance
in Mary Kom’s life. One is given for you.
(a) Kangthei - Mary Kom’s birth place
(b)
(c)
(d)
3. Go through the text again and complete the following sentences.
1. Mary Kom helped her parents with .
2. The success of Dingko Singh inspired .
3. Mary Kom made her debut at .
4. We can get more gold medals if .
5. Mary Kom was able to increase her weight by .
6. Mary Kom is good at .
7. Mary Kom loves to be .
8. Mary Kom apologised the nation for .
9. Kom’s parents were Her father was  .
10. Kom was the first woman boxer to .
4. You will find some Acronyms (short forms) in the text. Go to the library or
search the internet to find their full forms. Discuss with your partner. One is
given for you.
(a) OGQ - Olympic Gold Quest
(b) IBN -
(c) MTV -
(d) YPA -
(e) AIBA -
(f) CNN -
ENGLISH WORKSHOP 
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