Mary Kom

The Mary Kom saga isn’t just about standing on the top of the podium. It’s about surviving the fall and crawling back to old heights.

Fifteen years after her first world title, India’s original twinkle toes, MC Mary Kom, has won the Asian Championships. Six world medals, a historic Olympic bronze at London in 2012 and yet another successful comeback — and the Mary Kom story is far from over. There’s no debate that she deserves the title “India’s Ali”. As for the speculation about the longevity of her career and the number of trophies she will eventually end up with, those can be dismissed as a meaningless pursuit. Considering her unparalleled body of work in India’s sporting story, the only time her greatness needs to be weighed is when the nation sits down to decide its most successful athlete ever.

The Mary Kom saga isn’t just about standing on the top of the podium. It’s about surviving the fall and crawling back to old heights. Over the years, Mary Kom’s hand speed has slowed down and this resulted in her missing the Rio Olympics. That was the time when the fans thought her farewell was round the corner. But Mary Kom knew she still had it in her. Experts swear by the incredible footwork — the quick feints and weaves — that have enabled the 34-year-old to stay in the game for nearly two decades now. Taking everything in her stride, from returning from childbirth to adjusting to mandated weight divisions, Mary Kom has re-calibrated the life-cycle of a professional athlete. Her recent achievement means India will continue to look forward to the boxing bouts at the Asian and Commonwealth Games next year.

A representative of India’s North-east and also an MP now, Mary continues to be an inspirational figure. A movie has come and gone, but she scripts her own blazing path. Her influence goes much beyond the boxing arena, even as she refuses to compromise on the brutal discipline her sport demands. Yet, as a boxing nation, India has not been able to take a cue from her high standards. Her win at the Asian meet is also a reminder, therefore, of how nobody could quite follow the trailblazer. Mary was supposed to kick-start a revolution in women’s boxing, but that hasn’t happened. She remains a lone ranger, and that’s what makes her a more heroic, and more special figure in Indian sport.