10 things you need to know about Mary Kom

Mary Kom has bought India accolades in many international tournaments and is one of the best boxers in the nation at the moment. She is definitely an inspiration to many athletes who aspire to represent their country in a sport of their choice.The Manipuri girl has battled many odds on her way to achieving incredible things in the boxing ring. We all know that she is a 5-time World Champion and a bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics. Mary Kom the film releases on September 5 starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead role.Here are 10 things you probably did not know about Mary Kom.

#10 School Dropout

She left school to pursue boxing

She discontinued from school to concentrate on her boxing career. However, she gave her examination from NIOS, Imphal and graduated from Churachandpur College.

#9 Her motivation

Dingko Singh

She was interested in athletics right from her childhood, but the success of Dingko Singh changed her mind to take up boxing.

#8 Lack of family support

Mary Kom continued to fight despite not getting encouragement from her family

Her family weren’t supportive of her decision to choose boxing as an career option. Things began to change once she started winning titles on a regular basis.

#7 First success

Her first win was a sign of good things to come

She won her first silver medal in her debut tournament in the 46 Kg category at Pennsylvania, USA. She went on to win a gold medal at the second AIBA World Women’s Senior Boxing champion ship in Turkey the next year.

#6 Change in weight category

The shift to 51 Kg did not hamper her medal chances at the London Olympics

Mary had won several medals in the 46 Kg and 48 Kg categories. She was forced to shift to 51 Kg after the International Boxing Association (IBA) allowed women’s boxing in only three categories, with the lowest one at 51 Kg at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

#5 2012 Olympics

Mary Kom poses with her bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics

She was the only Indian boxer to qualify for the 2012 Olmpics in London. She won the bronze medal in the flyweight (51 Kg) category.

#4 Family

Mary Kom with husband Onler Kom and kids

She is married to K Onler Kom and has twin sons, Rechungvar and Khupneivar.They first met in 2001 when Kom was at New Delhi on her way to National Games in Punjab, while Onler was studying at Delhi University. They married in 2005 after dating for 4 years.

#3 Awards and honours

Mary Kom recieves Padma Bhushan award from President Pranab Mukherjee

She is bestowed with several awards in her illustrious career so far.

Arjuna Award in 2003.

• ‘Magnificent Mary’, AIBA 2008

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2009.

• International Boxing Association's Ambassador for Women's Boxing 2009

Padma Shree in 2010.

Padma Bhushan in 2013.

#2 Autobiography

Mary Kom releases her autobiography Unbreakable with Sushmita Sen

Her autobiography Unbreakable was released in December 2013.

#1 Boxing Academy

Mary Kom at her boxing academy in Imphal

She is the founder of MC Mary Kom boxing academy in Manipur. She also has started a female-only fight club in Imphal to teach girls defend themselves against sexual violence.