Guangzhou, Nov 13 : MC Mary Kom is a five-time world champion, a mother of two with a single burning ambition – to become one of the first Asian Games champions in women's boxing.
After being added to the programme for the 2012 London Olympics, women's boxing makes its Games debut in Guangzhou with three titles up for grabs, in flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (56-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg).
"This is a very big opportunity for me. A gold medal here will keep my motivation level high for the London Olympics in 2012," said the 27-year-old fighter.
It's been a tough road to the top for Kom, known as “Magnificent Mary” in India.
The daughter of poor farmers, she grew up in the north-east of India, next to the border with Myanmar where her parents still endure back-breaking work on the fields.
A fan of actor Jackie Chan, Kom gravitated towards boxing and used her natural strength to good effect, a legacy of her chores of chopping wood or making charcoal to help her family make ends meet in her troubled region.
"She never told us she'd taken up boxing," her father Tonpa told the BBC from the family home in Kangathei, a village in Manipur state.
"We only found out when we read in the papers of her success in a local competition.
"In fact, I didn't really want to encourage her to become a sportsperson because I thought it would cost a lot of money, more than we could afford."
Kom's fierce determination to succeed quickly killed off any suggestions she should retire after giving birth to twins.
"I can’t imagine life without boxing. I always knew I would come back and I am planning to continue as long as my body permits me," she said recently.
Boxing academy
Kom has also been trying to divert youngsters into the sport in her home region by setting up a boxing academy.
"I want to be able to provide things for the children, provide them with the equipment," said Kom.
"At the academy I try and provide a family background. I want to help out."
Chinese women picked up one gold, three silvers and three bronzes at the recent world championships in Barbados and will start as heavy favourites to dominate here.
In the flyweight final in the Caribbean, Ren Cancan made Chinese history, becoming the nation's first two-time women's world champion.
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