In a historic display of skill in New Delhi this Saturday, India's boxing icon Mary Kom claimed her sixth World Championship gold medal. Her achievement is truly extraordinary, especially considering she has balanced the demands of motherhood with a professional career, breaking barriers that no woman in the sport had ever crossed before.
Competing in the 48kg division, Mary Kom secured a decisive 5-0 victory over Hanna Okhotova of Ukraine to cement her place in history. When she told the press that she dedicated the win to her homeland, it sparked a wave of patriotic pride across India. Yet, behind this glittering success lies a story of immense sacrifice and perseverance; the road to the top was anything but easy for her.
ಆದರೆ ಇಂಥದೊಂದು ಇತಿಹಾಸ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲು ಮೇರಿ ಕೋಮ್ ಪಟ್ಟ ಕಷ್ಟವೆಷ್ಟು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದರೆ ಅಚ್ಚರಿಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೆ ಅವರ ಸಾಧನೆಯ ಹಾದಿ ಸುಲಭದ್ದೇನೂ ಆಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ.
In a poetic twist, the Olympic bronze medalist won her sixth world title on her 36th birthday. Overcome with emotion and draped in the national flag, she thanked her supporters for their unwavering faith. While her 48kg weight class isn't featured in the Olympics, she remains determined to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Games. She also candidly shared the lingering disappointment of not being able to compete in the Rio Olympics four years earlier.
A Legacy of Records: Mary Kom has now etched her name in the history books with two world records. She is the first female boxer to secure six gold medals at the World Championships and the most decorated athlete in the sport's history with a total of six golds and one silver.
Although she lost, Ukraine's Hanna Okhotova put up a fierce fight on Saturday. Interestingly, when Mary Kom won her first world title in Antalya, Turkey, back in 2002, Okhotova was only six years old. This final was a clash of generations, with the 36-year-old veteran triumphing over the 22-year-old challenger.
To truly appreciate her success, one must look at the fascinating details of Mary Kom's life.
Her passion for the sport was so intense that she left school in the 7th grade to focus on boxing, later completing her degree through private examinations. Coming from a humble background, she never had access to the expensive nutritional diets that wealthier athletes typically utilize.
ಬಡತನದ ಜೀವನ ಕಳೆದ ಕೋಮ್ ಯಾವತ್ತೂ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಬಾಕ್ಸರ್ ಆಟಗಾರರು ಸೇವಿಸುವ ಪೌಷ್ಟಿಕಾಂಶದ ಆಹಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಸೇವಿಸಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ.
A mother of two, Mary Kom has been honored with prestigious awards including the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri. Beyond medals, her legacy is immortalized with a road named in her honor. She is also dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent through the M.C. Mary Kom Boxing Academy, where she works to grow the sport in India.
ಯುವ ಬಾಕ್ಸರ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ತರಬೇತಿ ನೀಡಲು ಎಂಸಿ ಮೇರಿ ಕೋಮ್ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಾಕ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ಅಕಾಡೆಮಿ ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ ಬಾಕ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ಆಟದ ಬೆಳವಣಿಗೆಗೆ ಅವರು ಶ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
Prior to this championship, Mary Kom shared the title of the most successful boxer with Ireland's Katie Taylor (who has five golds and one bronze). By expanding her medal count, Mary has now stepped ahead as the definitive Queen of the Ring, while the 32-year-old Taylor has transitioned from amateur to professional boxing.
ಪ್ರಸಕ್ತ ವಿಶ್ವ ಚಾಂಪಿಯನ್ಷಿಪ್ಗೂ ಮುನ್ನ ಐರ್ಲೆಂಡ್ನ ಬಾಕ್ಸರ್ ಕೇಟಿ ಟೇಲರ್ (5 ಚಿನ್ನ, 1 ಕಂಚು) ಅವರೊಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಯಶಸ್ವಿ ಬಾಕ್ಸರ್ ಎಂಬ ದಾಖಲೆಯನ್ನು ಮೇರಿ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು, ಇದೀಗ ತಮ್ಮ ಒಟ್ಟು ಪದಕ ಗಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ವಿಸ್ತರಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಕ ಬಾಕ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ರಿಂಗ್ನ ರಾಣಿಯಾಗಿ ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮಿದ್ದಾರೆ. 32 ವರ್ಷದ ಕೇಟಿ ಟೇಲರ್ ಅಮೆಚೂರ್ ಬಾಕ್ಸಿಂಗ್ ತೊರೆದು ವೃತ್ತಿಪರ ಬಾಕ್ಸಿಂಗ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
With her sixth gold, 'Magnificent Mary' has equaled the legendary record of Cuba's Felix Savon, the most successful boxer across both men's and women's categories. Savon, a three-time Olympic champion, also secured six world titles between 1986 and 1989.