Olympic gold medallist Mary Kom on the look out for India's next boxing champion
One of the country's most famous athletes reveals how Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee were her inspirations growing up
Before she earned the sobriquet "Magnificent", Mary Kom used to help her parents in the jhum fields of Manipur make a subsistence living from slash and burn cultivation. That tough upbringing has helped in her fight to become one of the most famous athletes to come out of India.
Her laugh rings merrily from Bangalore when asked how a girl from the village took up boxing to then became a world champion, Olympic medallist and a household name?
Thankfully, I was able to convince him that boxing was just like any other sport and that I would not be a professional, but an amateur where the fighters are fully protected by headgear and other protective gear
"I stumbled upon boxing. As a kid I only took part in athletics in school but, one day, I heard that they were looking for female boxers and I was interested immediately. I always loved martial sports. I used to watch all the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan and I didn't need any persuasion to join up," Kom said.
Even though her dad was against it initially, Kom is now a five-time world champion and London Olympic bronze medallist - the only Indian female boxer to qualify for London as well as the first Indian boxer to win five consecutive world titles.
"My dad was dead against me taking up boxing. We were very poor. He was a farmer and he was frightened about what he would do if I got in injured in this physical sport. He was thinking about the money," said Kom.
"Thankfully, I was able to convince him that boxing was just like any other sport and that I would not be a professional, but an amateur where the fighters are fully protected by headgear and other protective gear. I'm happy I got his blessings," said Kom, who arrives in Hong Kong on Friday to address the Forum of Indian Professionals about her life journey.
