My target was always gold: Mary Kom
15 Aug 2012 7:35 AM IST
India has had its share of sportspersons over the years, starting from the hockey legends of 20th century to stalwarts like Vishwanathan Nathan, Leander Paes, Pankaj Advani, Abhinav Bindra and other goldfingers. And of course the cricketers, none bigger than Sachin Tendulkar. However, barring Anand, the only true-blue world champion we have had, over a sustained period of time, is M C Mary Kom.
The only female boxer to win a medal in each of the six women's world championships, Mary is such a down-to-earth person that she doesn't come across as being a huge star. With women's boxing being introduced in London Olympics for the first time, the odds of winning a medal were stacked very much in her favour. Had Beijing been the Games to launch the sport as a medal event, India wouldn't have returned with just one gold. After spending 12 backbreaking years at the highest level, Mary isn't quite the force she once used to be. The mother of twin sons confesses that it was her husband K Onler Kom's encouragement that pushed her to get back in shape and give her best to win the only big medal missing in her repertory.
The 29-year-old pugilist was a picture of humility in a jam-packed felicitation function organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the city on Tuesday. In her own words: 'First of all, I would like to thank god and all the people of India. I am not ready for such honour so I don't really know what to say. I am extremely happy that the country loves and supports me, people of every religion pray for me. I am glad to come back with a medal from the Olympics. Though I was confident of getting a medal, my target was gold. I'm sorry that I couldn't do it. But I hope to go for gold in the next Olympics in Rio.'
The only female boxer to win a medal in each of the six women's world championships, Mary is such a down-to-earth person that she doesn't come across as being a huge star. With women's boxing being introduced in London Olympics for the first time, the odds of winning a medal were stacked very much in her favour. Had Beijing been the Games to launch the sport as a medal event, India wouldn't have returned with just one gold. After spending 12 backbreaking years at the highest level, Mary isn't quite the force she once used to be. The mother of twin sons confesses that it was her husband K Onler Kom's encouragement that pushed her to get back in shape and give her best to win the only big medal missing in her repertory.
The 29-year-old pugilist was a picture of humility in a jam-packed felicitation function organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in the city on Tuesday. In her own words: 'First of all, I would like to thank god and all the people of India. I am not ready for such honour so I don't really know what to say. I am extremely happy that the country loves and supports me, people of every religion pray for me. I am glad to come back with a medal from the Olympics. Though I was confident of getting a medal, my target was gold. I'm sorry that I couldn't do it. But I hope to go for gold in the next Olympics in Rio.'
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