Notes Class 10 Chapter 3.5 Kumarbharati English Maharashtra Board

Unbeatable Super Mom – Mary Kom

Introduction

This chapter is about Mary Kom, a famous Indian woman boxer who has made the country proud by winning many national and international boxing championships. Known as “Magnificent Mary,” she is an inspiring figure who overcame challenges to become a legend in sports. The chapter includes her biography, an interview, and details about her achievements, struggles, and qualities.

About Mary Kom

• Full Name: Chungneijang Mary Kom
• Nickname: Magnificent Mary
• Birth: November 24, 1982
• Hometown: Kangthei village, Churachandpur district, Manipur, India
• Community: Kom tribe

Family Background:

• Parents: Mangte Tonpa Kom (father) and Mangte Akham Kom (mother)
• They were poor tenant farmers who worked in fields.
• Mary grew up in simple conditions, helping with farm chores while studying and practicing sports.

Early Interests:

• Loved athletics as a child.
• Inspired by Dingko Singh, a Manipuri boxer who won a gold medal at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
• Decided to try boxing after seeing his success.

Mary Kom’s Boxing Journey

Career Start:

• Began boxing in 2000 after winning the Manipur State Women’s Boxing Championship and a regional championship in West Bengal.
• In 2001, at age 18, she competed internationally at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championship in the USA, winning a silver medal in the 48 kg category.

Key Achievements:

• Six-time World Amateur Boxing Champion (only woman to win a medal in all six world championships).
• 2012 Olympics: First Indian woman boxer to qualify and win a bronze medal in the 51 kg flyweight category.
• 2018 Commonwealth Games: First Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal.

Nicknames: Komqueror, Komrade

Special Quality: Apologized to the nation for not winning gold in the 2012 Olympics, showing her humility and dedication.

An Interview with Mary Kom

The chapter includes an exclusive interview by Taruka Srivastava from Sportskeeda.

Key points:

• Feelings About Winning: Mary was thrilled about her Olympic bronze but said the feeling was still sinking in.
• Pressure: Being the only female boxer from India didn’t pressure her; she was confident.
• Coach Absence: Her coach, Charles Atkinson, wasn’t allowed at the Olympics, but she was well-prepared.
• Training: Sparred with male boxers in Pune, didn’t name a favorite to be fair.
• Judging Issues: Believed some judging decisions in the semi-finals were unfair, which affected her chance for gold.

Suggestions for India:

• More people should take sports as a full-time career.
• Companies should support athletes to reduce financial stress.

Boxing’s Future: Predicts boxing will become popular in India beyond the Olympics.

Nutrition:

• Indian women athletes are becoming more aware of nutrition.
• Mary gained 3 kg for the 51 kg Olympic category by eating healthy food, avoiding unhealthy fats.

Role of OGQ: Olympic Gold Quest supported her by taking care of her needs, allowing her to focus on boxing.

Motherhood:

• Has twin sons, finds it hard to stop them from fighting after watching her box.
• Loves being a mom more than being a boxer (Super Mom over Super Boxer).

Breaking Stereotypes:

• Proved women can compete with men in any field.
• Good at cooking and household work, showing she balances traditional and modern roles.

Future Plans: Open to coaching Indian women boxers later.

Awards and Recognitions

Mary Kom has received many honors for her achievements:

1. Arjuna Award (2003) – For boxing.
2. Padma Shree (2006) – For sports.
3. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2009) – India’s highest sports award.
4. CNN-IBN Real Heroes Award (2008).
5. AIBA Ambassador for Women’s Boxing (2009).
6. Sahara Sportswoman of the Year (2010).
7. Gold Medal – 2018 Commonwealth Games.
8. Others: Limca Book of Records, Pepsi MTV Youth, AIBA’s ‘Magnificent Mary’ title.

Key Qualities of Mary Kom

Mary Kom’s personality shines through her actions and words. Some qualities:

• Humble: Grew up in simple conditions, apologized for not winning gold.
• Dedicated: Trained hard, balanced motherhood and boxing.
• Confident: Never felt pressured, believed in herself.
• Inspiring: Broke stereotypes, motivated other women.
• Hardworking: Helped parents, trained with male boxers.
• Caring: Loves being a mom, supports teammates.

Why ‘Super Mom’?

The title calls Mary a ‘Super Mom’ because:

1. Balancing Roles: Manages boxing and motherhood with equal dedication.
2. Inspiring Her Kids: Sets an example of strength and discipline.
3. Breaking Barriers: Shows women can excel in tough sports while being great moms.

Important Details About Her Life

Early Life: Born in a poor family, helped with farm work, loved athletics.

Inspiration: Dingko Singh’s success motivated her to box.

Training:

• Sparred with male boxers.
• Focused on healthy diet to gain weight for competitions.
• Worked with coaches to prepare rigorously.

Challenges:

• Grew up in poverty.
• Faced unfair judging in the Olympics.
• Missed her coach during the 2012 Olympics.

Future Plans: May coach Indian women boxers someday.

Acronyms (Short Forms)

1. OGQ: Olympic Gold Quest
2. IBN: India Broadcast Network
3. MTV: Music Television
4. YPA: Young People’s Association
5. AIBA: International Boxing Association
6. CNN: Cable News Network

Fact File of Mary Kom

1. Full Name: Chungneijang Mary Kom
2. Native of: Kangthei village, Manipur
3. Early Life and Interests: Grew up in poverty, helped parents, loved athletics.
4. Special Sport: Boxing
5. Inspired by: Dingko Singh
6. Coach: Charles Atkinson
7. Early Achievements: Won Manipur State Championship (2000), silver at AIBA World Championship (2001).
8. International Achievements: Six-time World Champion, Olympic bronze (2012), Commonwealth gold (2018).
9. Passion: Being a mother and boxing.
10. Future Plans: Possibly coaching women boxers.

Cities Important in Mary Kom’s Life

1. Kangthei: Her birthplace.
2. Pune: Trained and sparred with male boxers.
3. London: Competed in the 2012 Olympics.
4. West Bengal: Won a regional championship early in her career.

Suggestions for Indian Sports (by Mary Kom)

1. Encourage more people to take sports as a full-time career.
2. Companies should sponsor athletes to reduce financial stress.
3. Improve awareness about nutrition for better performance.

Key Lessons from Mary Kom’s Life

1. Hard Work Pays Off: She trained tirelessly to achieve success.
2. Overcome Challenges: Poverty and stereotypes didn’t stop her.
3. Balance Responsibilities: She excels as a boxer, mother, and role model.
4. Stay Humble: Despite fame, she remains grounded and apologetic for not meeting expectations.
5. Inspire Others: Her story motivates women and athletes to dream big.