Mary wins record sixth world title
MAGNIFICENT 35yearold turns the clock back with first title in eight years, Sonia settles for silver
NEWDELHI: It is tough to decipher the phenomenon called MC Mary Kom --- a boxing superstar, mother of three, parliamentarian and an inspiration for young girls taking up the sport across the world. Maybe her popularity goes beyond such facts; it can’t be measured by mere statistics she has piled up rigorously in 17 long years. It has to be seen to be believed.
Each time she has entered the arena at the KD Jadhav Stadium with a nonchalant walk, oblivious to the clamorous chants of her name, her diminutive frame has appeared taller, bigger than the stage. Each time she has broken into that infectious toothy grin of hers after bouts she has appeared a rookie who has come out of the ring after winning her first bout. That’s Mary Kom’s eternal love for boxing. The legend and the sport revel in each other’s presence.
On Saturday, Mary fought ferociously to pull off a tough final against Ukraine’s Hanna Okhota by unanimous verdict (5-0) in the 48kg category for a record sixth world title and then melted in a sea of emotion.
The trickle of tears soon opened a floodgate as the packed stadium ceaselessly chanted her name. Mary grabbed a flag, thanked her fans. Tears just won’t stop as she made her way out of the arena draped in the tricolour.
“She has not slept for two days. Look at the crowd, the noise; she was under so much of pressure to win at home. Only Mary has the heart and courage to handle this. This is her moment,” said India’s chief coach Raffaele Bergamasco.
SONIA LOSES
Sonia Chahal though had to settle for silver in 57kg after losing 4-1 to Gabriele Ornella Wahner of Germany in a slugfest. India finished with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
All these days, Mary has talked about the enormous pressure of boxing at home, her tough journey starting from 2001 when she opened her account in the World Championships with silver, and how different were those times --- when women’s boxing was struggling to find its feet, when the sport was seen as men’s bastion, when Mary would travel sometimes all by herself. “Mar khati thi aur phir khud hi ice lagana padta tha (used to get hit and then had to ice myself),” she had said.
Life changed for Mary with the London Olympics bronze. Despite being a mother to three kids, boxing has remained her first love. She came back to the sport last year and was ready for the rollercoaster ride again; she wanted to win the title again at home, in front of her own people.
It was different from 2006 when she had won her third title here. Mary was young, still a work in progress. She is now 35, an icon in the sport. Her reputation follows her. In the ring, she knew she would face opponents who have grown up idolising her. They have speed and hunger, but Mary was up for it.
Through her four bouts, Mary’s boxing hardly showed chinks; they reflected years of experience. She has toyed with opponents, changed her strategies, known when to take a step back after being hit. She has battled on.
She worked tirelessly for that one final moment which she embraced on Saturday. She entered to a thunderous applause, muttered a silent prayer to her blue side and was ready.
Mary beat Hanna recently in Poland, but the stake here was bigger. Mary was like a crafty swordsman, stepping in with sharp jabs and stepping back as Hanna launched a vicious counterattack.
Hanna was superior in the second round, her combinations on target. But Mary was all attack in the third round. She launched a flurry of punches, especially towards the end when Hanna taunted her to attack. The outcome left the crowd and Mary enthralled.
She is not stopping. “I am still dreaming,” she said. So is the entire nation.