MC Mary Kom, 28, recently won her fifth world boxing champion title in Haikou, China.
Just weeks ago, MC Mary Kom , 28, won her fifth world boxing champion title in Haikou, China. The fight was rendered enormously difficult for the middleweight boxer because she knew that back in India, her three-year-old son was having heart surgery. The Padma Shri and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee tells Shimona Kanwar about the trials of combining motherly perfection with sporting magnificence.
Excerpts:
Is your son alright now?
My son Khupneivar is doing good. He was operated upon for a hole in the heart and is now recuperating in the hospital ICU. Thanks for all the prayers.
How did you manage to concentrate at the Asian Cup when you knew what was happening at home?
It was difficult to cope with the pressure of the game as well as with my son's heart surgery. But somehow, I did. I guess it is because the determination to win for the nation comes from the mind and striving to be a perfect mom comes from within the heart.
Have you dedicated the gold medal to your son? Is this medal more special than all the others?
Yes, this medal is for my Naidu (the boy's nickname, which means beloved in Manipuri). In fact, I brought the medal and the cup directly to the PGI where he is admitted. I want his little fingers to touch the medal and make me feel a winner again. This way, the recent accomplishment will become more special than any of my knockout matches.
How do you balance your life as a mother and as a sportswoman? Is it a difficult balance?
I really do not have to balance in terms of personality as I remain the same when at home or out in the ring. However, as far as maintaining a fine balance between a mother and a sportsperson is concerned, I admit that it is tough. At times, I have missed out on my sons' growing up years, their pranks and innocent questions about discovery of their own world. But with my husband's support, I have been able to overcome the limitation. Onler, my husband plays both father and a mother in my absence.
Have you had to make sacrifices for your sport in your personal life?
To get anything in life, sacrifice is a must. And I have learnt it the hard way. Initially, I tried to juggle between home and practice sessions. But it wasn't possible to give equal time to both. I have come to this level at the cost of my family time.
Would you like your sons to follow your example and join this sport?
I definitely would want them to follow my hard work and determination. But the final decision must be theirs. What they want to do in life is entirely their domain and I will not insist that they take up boxing. Khupneivar has recently joined our academy to learn boxing.
You were an all-round athlete. Why did you choose boxing considering no one would think it a popular women's sport?
Why I took boxing? Well, I guess it was a love at first sight. Moreover, at the time I learnt about it, it was a new idea since women boxers were relatively unknown those days. The rise of Dingko Singh and the demonstration of women boxers at the 5th National Games (Manipur) inspired me a lot.
Is it difficult to combine femininity and boxing ? Have you ever faced jokes about being a female boxer?
Taking the perspective of Indian society at large, it is a difficult combination. But I have been fortunate as I belong to the North-east. In that region, there are no rigid regulations for women. It is an open society and women do not play second fiddle to men. So, I have never faced such a problem.
But did you not have to initially hide your interest in boxing from your parents?
I come from a farmer's family. Be it working in the fields, cutting wood, fishing and making charcoal, I used to help my parents earn a livelihood. However, since they were keen on educating me, so I had to face stiff opposition from them when I turned to sports. Yes, initially I had concealed my interest. This could not remain a secret for long, though.
How confident are you about winning Olympic gold next year?
I am confident that I will give my best for the country . About winning the medal, let us just wait for the moment. I am certain it will be memorable. I have been consistently working hard for this.
What happens if you win Olympic gold? What would be the motivation to go on for a champion who seems to have won almost all the awards that matter?
Giving my best for the Olympics is my focus at the moment. Of course, if I win the Olympics, for which I have been waiting, it will be a dream come true. I am of the belief that medals are not an index of one's victory. As long as I love the sport, I will move on till I retire.
Besides boxing and your sons, do you have any other interests? What do you do in your spare time?
I spend some of my spare time with the students of my academy in Manipur. I love to attend social functions and mingle with people. There are many youngsters who are looking for some source of inspiration and direction in life. I try and encourage these young people to chase their dreams and have faith in God.
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