Mary Kom adds 5th Asian Championship gold to her records
What's the story
Indian star boxer MC Mary Kom clinched her fifth gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championships defeating North Korea's Kim Hyang-mi with a 5-0 verdict in the final at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This is the gritty 34-year-old's first international gold after the 2014 Asian Games. After her latest feat, let's revisit Mary Kom's legendary trophy cabinet.
Early hardships
Humble beginnings
MC Mary Kom as the world knows her, was born Mangte Chungneijang in Kangathei, Manipur. As a child of farm laborer parents, Kom had a tough childhood facing several economic hardships. She took up boxing in 2000 after being inspired by Dinko Singh's gold medal in 1998 Asian Games and started her training with first coach L Ibomcha Singh.
Data
Medals in Asian competitions
Before the 2017 Asian Championships, Mary Kom won the event four times before - 2003, 2005, 2010, and 2012. She also has a silver from 2008 Championships. Apart from this she won a bronze and gold at 2010 and 2014 Asian games, respectively.
Medals
Five World Championships and Olympic medal
Kom saw her first success as a boxer after winning the Manipur state boxing championship, 2000. For her, there was no looking back after that. After a Silver in the 2001 Amateur world boxing championships, she went on to win five back-to-back World Championships between 2002 and 2010. 2012 is the year when she took Indian media by storm winning the 2012 Olympic bronze.
Information
First Indian woman boxer to clinch Olympic medal
Mary Kom is the first Indian woman boxer and only the third Indian woman to win an Olympic medal.