Mumbai honours world boxing champ Mary Kom
4 Oct 2013 5:28 AM IST
Five-time women’s world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom was in demand for being honoured by various persons, parties and institutions including the media in the city over the past few days. The pugilist was in town to receive an award as well as drum up financial support from India’s Commercial Hub for her Mary Kom regional Boxing Foundation in Manipur, which is presently training about 40 boxers out of money from her own pocket at the rate of Rs one lakh per month.
Describing her medals as testimony to the champion material she was made up of, BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi – in a message – said that this ‘daughter of Maa Bharati’ has beaten not only her rivals but also overcome hardships that came her way including working in the fields, facing rejection in Imphal athletics before successfully switching to boxing (even in her parents objection over her face looks likely to get damaged), while bringing honour to the nation. ‘She is a role model for youths coming from remote areas to compete in sports,’ he said.
Former BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, on Monday, presented her with the ONE India Award (instituted by My Home, India), a cheque for Rs one lakh and a shawl. A day earlier, ‘Magnificent Mary,’ as she is fondly referred to, addressed members of the Mumbai Press Club and even sang for them.
Lauding her boxing efforts that had brought laurels to India, Gadkari said it was a shame that the central government was not bothered about Manipur which – more beautiful than Switzerland – if properly marketed, could bring tourists in thousands. Sadly, this region is being besieged and wrecked by insurgency through blockades (some as long as 100 days), non-development of roads, water, electricity, lack of petrol (costing Rs 250 per litre), while the Central Government remained a mute spectator even after 65 years of independence, he said.
Describing her medals as testimony to the champion material she was made up of, BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi – in a message – said that this ‘daughter of Maa Bharati’ has beaten not only her rivals but also overcome hardships that came her way including working in the fields, facing rejection in Imphal athletics before successfully switching to boxing (even in her parents objection over her face looks likely to get damaged), while bringing honour to the nation. ‘She is a role model for youths coming from remote areas to compete in sports,’ he said.
Former BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, on Monday, presented her with the ONE India Award (instituted by My Home, India), a cheque for Rs one lakh and a shawl. A day earlier, ‘Magnificent Mary,’ as she is fondly referred to, addressed members of the Mumbai Press Club and even sang for them.
Lauding her boxing efforts that had brought laurels to India, Gadkari said it was a shame that the central government was not bothered about Manipur which – more beautiful than Switzerland – if properly marketed, could bring tourists in thousands. Sadly, this region is being besieged and wrecked by insurgency through blockades (some as long as 100 days), non-development of roads, water, electricity, lack of petrol (costing Rs 250 per litre), while the Central Government remained a mute spectator even after 65 years of independence, he said.
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