PM Modi to inaugurate Mary Kom's boxing-academy on 16 March
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the "Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation" in Imphal on 16 March and present in the long-awaited event will be Olympic medallists: boxer Vijender Kumar and wrestler Sushil Kumar. Nestled at the foot of Langol hills in Manipur's Imphal West district, the academy, spread across 3.3 acres, is around 10km from the center of state capital Imphal. Here's more.
The academy
Academy's construction funded by National Sports Development Fund
The academy currently houses 45 young boxers, including 20 girls. The land was allotted by the Manipur Government in 2013, and the academy's construction was funded by National Sports Development Fund (NSDF). "The foundation is grateful to both central and state government for the establishment of these sports facilities after many years of struggle since its inception in 2006," it said in a statement.
Details
The foundation expressed gratitude to the PMO
"The foundation expresses their gratitude to PMO for making (it) to the event and formally handover the buildings to the foundation for promotion of boxing sports," it said. A five-time world and Asian champion, Mary Kom is India's only woman boxer with an Olympic medal. The 35-year-old was christened "Magnificent Mary" by the International Boxing Association a few years ago for her stellar career.