Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) on Sunday lauded five-time world champion MC Mary Kom on winning the Padma Bhushan award. The Manipur based boxing sensation has been inspirational to most of the emerging women boxers and has encouraged others to take up boxing. Providing necessary impetus for the boxers has been one of the biggest achievements of hers so far.
In fact, she was fully prepared to win gold for India at the recently concluded 2012 London Olympics. However, she had to remain content with the bronze medal. Considering the fact that she participated after conceiving recently is something that is laudable to the core.
The 29-year-old woman pugilist, a proud mother of two, got away with just a bronze medal in the fly weight division at the London Olympics to become the first Indian woman to secure a boxing medal. Moreover, she is also the lone woman boxer to have won a medal in each of the first six AIBA Women's World Boxing championships.
However, she has not intentions of turning into a pro yet. The craze for professional boxing has increased in recent times for sure because of the global demand. Kom’s concentration is totally upon 2016 Olympics in Rio so that she could try out another hand trying to win the medal at least the next time. It really needs to be seen that whether she will be able to get the medal or not.
"Mary Kom is a living legend in the sport of women's boxing, the five-time World Champion has achieved almost everything that the sport has to offer. Her nomination for the Padma Bhushan comes as a tremendous boost for women's boxing in India", mentioned Rajesh Bhandari, the Secretary General of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation.
Kom has taken boxing to incredible heights in India. Perhaps, she now aims to boxing academies throughout the country in order to encourage women to take up this sport.
"Mary Kom's contribution to the sport is unparalleled. The boxing fraternity of India is extremely proud of Mary, for the passion and dedication she has exhibited and for being a great ambassador of the sport. Words fall short in praise for this diminutive giant," added Bhandari.
The IABF, which was recently banned by the Sports Ministry of India for faulty electoral processes, would also like to congratulate 1998 Bangkok Asian Game gold medallist Dingko Singh, for being chosen for the Padma Shri award and London Olympics quarter-finalist Laishram Devendro Singh for getting chosen for the Vishisht Seva Medal by the Indian Armed Forces (IAF).
Such noteworthy efforts to encourage boxers and other sportspersons would definitely encourage them to the core. Moreover, they will be able to carry out their duties in a convincing manner besides actively participating in the sports. There will be no issue of sponsorship as well, which will be perfectly taken care of by the concerned firms in a perfect manner. The need for producing more sportspersons such as Kom is definitely important. It needs to be seen how the future performances of such people will do India more proud.
