Six-time world champion M.C. Mary Kom on Sunday won a gold in a lop-sided 51kg bout final at the 23rd Presidents Cup in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, defeating the Australian April Franks 5-0.
Following her win, she tweeted, “Gold medal for me and for my country at #PresidentCup Indonesia. Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder & give more effort than anyone else. I sincerely thanks to all my Coaches and support staffs of @BFI_official @KirenRijiju @Media_SAI.”
Women Shine at the President’s Cup
Indian women boxers won all the gold medals on offer at the 23rd President’s Cup. World Championships bronze winner Simranjit Kaur won a gold medal in the 60 kg category by defeating Indonesia’s Hasanah Huswatan 5-0. Along with her and Kom, Jamuna Boro and Monika also claimed one gold each in 54 kg and 48 kg categories respectively. The wins accounted for a total of four gold medals won by Indian women at the championship. Indian boxers won nine medals altogether, claiming the ‘Best Team’ award.
Prior Accomplishments
Mary Kom claimed her sixth world title in New Delhi last year, becoming the first woman ever to do so. The Indian boxer also won a gold at the India Open boxing tournament in May but skipped the Asian Championships held that month in order to increase her chances of qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She will be participating in the 2019 World Boxing Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia in September.
THE WINS ACCOUNTED TO A TOTAL OF FOUR GOLD MEDALS WON BY INDIAN WOMEN AT THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
She was the only Indian woman to qualify for a boxing event at the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze in the 51 kg category. She has also won a gold in the 51 kg category at the 2014 Asian Games and another one in the 45-48 kg category at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She, however, did not qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Other Accomplishments
For her accomplishments in sports, Mary Kom has been awarded the Padma Shri (2006), Padma Bhushan (2013), Arjuna Award (2003) and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award (2009), among others.
In 2016, she was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha by then President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
Mary Kom claimed her SIXTH world title in New Delhi last year, becoming the first woman ever to do so.
Social Causes
Kom is an animal rights activist and has supported People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India in its endeavour to end the use of elephants in circuses. In 2014, she also partnered with PETA in promoting its humane-education programme, Compassionate Citizen. As part of the initiative, she wrote to the education ministers of states and union territories of India requesting the inclusion of the programme in the curriculum of students aged 8 to 12, according to an article published by The Times of India.
Biopic
In 2014, a biographical film based on Mary Kom’s life was made. Starring Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra in the lead role, the film was immensely successful and was the first Hindi film to be screened at the opening night if the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, which depicts her journey to becoming a boxer, brought immense popularity to her.
