Mary Kom Wiki & Biography: Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, globally celebrated as “Magnificent Mary,” is one of the most decorated athletes in Indian sports history. Rising from humble beginnings in rural Manipur, she became a pioneering force in international women’s boxing, earning historic Olympic and World Championship accolades.
| Name | Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte |
|---|---|
| Nick Name | Mary Kom |
| Profession | Boxer |
| Famous For | Boxing |
| Date Of Birth | 1 March 1983 |
| Age | 43 |
| Birthplace | Kangathei, Manipur, India |
| Caste | NA |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Kangathei, Manipur, India |
| School | Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang, Manipur, India |
| College/ University | Churachandpur College, Manipur, India |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Food Habit | Non-vegetarian |
| Address | Kangathei, Manipur, India |
| Hobbies | Martial Arts, Travelling, Watching TV, Singing |
| Movies, TV Shows | NA |
| Height (approx.) | 5 feet 3 inches |
| Weight (approx.) | 59 |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Light Brown |
| Awards/ Honours | NA |
| Martial Status | Married |
| Parents | Father: Mangte Tonpa Kom Mother: Mangte Akham Kom |
Mary Kom Biography
Mary Kom Early Life and Education
Mary Kom was born on 1 March 1983 in Kangathei, a village in Manipur. She grew up in an underprivileged household where her parents worked as tenant farmers practicing Jhum (shifting) cultivation.
Engaged in sports throughout her childhood, she was drawn toward competitive boxing after witnessing the achievements of fellow Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh. At age 15, Mary chose to commit to the ring. She initially kept her training secret from her father, who worried the sport might cause facial injuries and damage her future marital prospects.
She completed her early schooling at Loktak Christian Model High School and St. Xavier Catholic School in Moirang before moving to Imphal to attend Adimjati High School. She later graduated from Churachandpur College, affiliated with Manipur University.
Mary Kom Career
Mary Kom began formal training under coach K. Kosana Meitei in Imphal, quickly asserting her dominance in competitive tournaments:
- Early Tournaments (2000–2001): Made her competitive debut at the Manipur State Boxing Championship in 2000, followed by her international debut at the 2001 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championship.
- World Amateur Championship Reign: Became a five-time World Amateur Boxing Champion, winning medals across each of the first six World Championships she entered.
- Global Ranking: Attained a career-high world ranking of No. 4 in the AIBA flyweight category.
Following marriage and the birth of her children, Mary took a hiatus from the ring. She made a triumphant return at the 2008 Asian Women’s Boxing Championship, securing a silver medal and demonstrating remarkable longevity and resilience at the elite level.
The 2012 London Summer Olympics represented a watershed moment for Indian sports:
- Sole Qualifier: Mary Kom was the only female Indian boxer to secure qualification for the 2012 Olympic Games.
- Olympic Bronze: Competing in the women’s flyweight division, she captured the bronze medal, making history as India’s first female Olympic boxing medalist and elevating the profile of women’s combat sports across the nation.
In recognition of her athletic accomplishments and contributions to Indian sport, Mary Kom has received the country’s most prestigious sporting and civilian honors:
- 2003: Arjuna Award
- 2006: Padma Shri
- 2009: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award)
- 2013: Padma Bhushan
- 2020: Padma Vibhushan
- 2023: Global Indian Icon of the Year at the U.K.-India Awards