M C Mary Kom's latest victory, which has led her to become the first woman boxer to claim six World Championship gold medals, is a testimony to women power and an example of how age and motherhood have not stopped her from chasing her dreams. What is more important is the fact that Mary Kom belongs to the North East of India, that too from a volatile state where insurgents still call the shots. Yet, Manipuri women and men too have shown their mettle in sports despite the social tensions gripping the state. Many Manipuri sportspersons, mostly women, have won so many laurels for India at international meets.  

 

Mary Kom's latest victory when she outclassed Ukraine's Hanna Okhota by a unanimous 5:0 verdict at the 10th AIBA women's boxing World Championships at the KD Jadhav indoor hall in New Delhi on Saturday shows that with grit and determination, a sportsperson can rewrite history. Nobody expected her to win gold. All it was written in media was that she may win a medal since she has entered the quarter finals because she is ageing at 36 and also a mother of three. But what is more pertinent to note is her insatiable lust for the game and her determination to win the Olympic Gold in Tokyo Games in 2022.

 

Though age will not be on her side by then, the determination is her driving point. Many at this age would have called it a day, but not Mary Kom who is now fondly called the Magnificent Mary (once reserved for the Scottish Queen Mary). Her biggest challenge ahead of the Tokyo Olympics will be the prospect of changing categories, since the Olympics does not have bouts in the light flyweight category.  The first time women’s boxing held as an event in the Olympics was in the 2012 London Games where only three women’s events – flyweight, middleweight and lightweight categories – were permitted to participate.  Mary’s only previous foray into the quadrennial sporting mega-event came in the same year. She clinched a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight category (51 kg) as she lost in the semis to eventual gold medalist Nicola Adams. She will again be contesting in the 51 kg category.

 

Mary Kom’s victory should be an eye opener for the sportspersons of Arunachal Pradesh. We have so many talents especially in Karate, Taekwondo, football, etc. Our team won nine gold medals in the first ever North East Olympics held in Imphal this year. Our Under 18 football team won many games in the Under 18 football matches held as part of the National School Games held recently in Rajasthan. But our young talents lack proper training at the state level. It is time Pema Khandu Government paid some attention to this aspect.