By Hijam Raju Singh
Five-time world boxing champion, MC Mary Kom singing an old hindi Bollywood song with husband Onler Kom playing guitar for her during a private felicitation organised by her fans in New Delhi.
New Delhi, Sep 28 : "Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh..." It was indeed a strange evening. The kind one doesn't expect while meeting a well-known multiple world boxing champ. And it was just a mere clue of what was in store, when I met the five-time world boxing champion MC Mary Kom.
Mary Kom showcased a softer and joyous side of herself, quite different from the one her opponents know and wary about, in front of a very vocal fans from her native place ( Manipur). She talks about her life as boxer, as mother and finally surprised everyone by singing for them at the end.
Magnificent Mary sang an old Hindi classic 'Ajeeb daastaan hai yeh..' and a Manipuri hit number 'Khangna Khangna Khanghaudeko...' with her husband on guitar to show her gratitude towards the privileged fans.
Mary has recently returned from the Caribbean after successfully defending her world title for the unprecedented fifth successive time.
Mother of two, Mary has now really become a 'Super Mom'. Inside the ring, she is still a tough nut who refused to bog down and has won medal in all the six women's world championships held so far. But as a mother, she wishes her children to pick up tennis racket rather than the boxing gloves and follow her glorious career.
"I can't see them suffer as I did. I would love them to pick up tennis rather than boxing," Mary said about her kids. "I know Leander (Paes) now; I can send them to him to learn the nuances of tennis. Though all depends on their interest, I hope at least one of them love the game," she added with a wry smile.
Mary started her boxing career quite late way back in 2000 but to everyone's surprise her talent came to full light in the very first year itself. She straight away became state and national champion in the year 2000 followed with an historic silver medal in the inaugural World Women's Boxing Championship. And rest is history.
"I used to watch boxing great Mohd Ali in TV and in 1998 Dingko Singh's Asian Games gold medal worked as catalyst for me as I replaced my running shoes with boxing gloves," Mary revealed the secret about her switch-over from athletics to boxing almost a decade back.
Combat sport needs an aggressive approach, so where did she gather her thrust during the bouts. "I am very temperamental and get angry very soon. But I also calm down quickly too. And during my bouts, I remain very calm and never went on attacking mode in the initial rounds," Mary said while disclosing her ring strategy.
"I study my opponents' approach and analyse it before unleashing my own accordingly," said the Lioness about her hunting tactics.
Winning gold is the most treasured moment of her career. "I love my first (gold medal) as much as my latest. Gold medal gives me immense satisfaction."
When forced to choose one, she said, "The one after becoming a mother was a special one."
Mary also revealed that she will hang up the gloves after fulfilling her ultimate dream. "I want to be an Olympian and that's something which still drives me forward," she said about her desire to represent India at London Games in 2012.
"I will definitely aim for gold there, but being an Olympian is a reward in itself," she added candidly.
Mary wants to earn a coaching diploma for herself after retiring from the sport so that she can pass on her talent to the coming generation.
She has already started an academy in Imphal (Manipur) and has around 30 residential kids plus some more day boarding students.
"We can't say I have achieved everything and stop. We have responsibility towards society and I am doing my bit through the academy," she said proudly.
"I recruit kids from poor background and give them free training plus food and shelter. I have hired an assistant coach and pay his salary too," she divulged her philanthropic side.
"I didn't get any help from the state and haven't asked for fund either. I want my students to start winning medals in championships before looking for funds. I don't want to look like someone who started the academy to earn money," she explained her decision to keep the academy as a low-key affair.
When reminded that she got married in quite an early age, she said, "I had made my career then, and has my future in control. And also if I hadn't got married at that right time, I would have to face the tough decision of choosing from many suitors now."
Mary has an advice or two for the youngsters too, about relationships before marriage. "Boyfriend-girlfriend is okay if you guys know that you will hook up for life. But just for the sake of it, when your parents send you for higher studies and better future in big cities then you must re-consider it," signed off five-time world boxing champ exhibiting how stronger she is deep inside.
0 comments:
Post a Comment