An afternoon at the Mary Kom academy
Known as a “powerhouse of sports” for Olympic and football products, a large number of Manipur’s stars hone their talent at the National Games Village in Imphal’s Langol foothills. Inhabited by leopards, jackals and pythons in the preindependence period the belt is now home to the Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation that disciplines human beasts in the ring.
As India finished its lastminute preparations for the Women’s World Boxing Championships, with Mary Kom herself leading the contingent, I got a close look at the sights and sounds of the iconic school that is shaping future champions.
People in this part of the world are friendly, but take their guests seriously. Singam Priyananda Singh, the secretary of the Manipur Cricket Association, raised his “guide” collar. “I will also go with you. I never get time to go around the city,” he said.
We were in Imphal to cover Manipur’s baby steps in the Ranji Trophy, but Singh didn’t mind the detour. He called a sports enthusiast friend, Ronel Leishangthem, who knew the route to Mary’s academy.
Amid grassy wetlands enclosed by the hills, the 30minute ride from the city centre is an escape into the unreal. The deeper you go, the more potholes you come across, and the shrieks and grunts get louder.
Before you absorb the bloodandsweat ambience, an intense Mary Kom poster with the catch line “Fuels Champions” packs a punch.