For Kom, Bring Out The Pom-­Poms!

As Mary Kom rightly pointed out, her latest world crown was the most difficult one.

- Y. B. Sarangi

In the dazzling light of Mary Kom’s aura, her early toil for recognition remains in the dark.

Those initial days laid the foundation on which now stands the towering career of the six­time world champion. When women’s boxing itself was in its infancy, Mary’s first two world titles understandably got lukewarm response in the country.

It was a reflection of the status of the sport and its practitioners at large.

“At that time no one knew about women’s boxing. The national camp used to be held at smaller Sports Authority of India centres and there were not many facilities for the boxers. No one cared for the sport,” said former national coach Anoop Kumar, remembering the early 2000s.

“In 2006, when we hosted the world championships and eight of our girls got medals, including four golds, the national federation felicitated the boxers. Before that hardly anyone knew about Mary.”

Even when Mary returned from Ningbo City with her fourth world crown in 2008, the reception was organised by a group of Manipuri students at a Delhi University canteen. Only a handful of journalists at­ tended that meet.

However, a massive jump in Mary’s pop­ularity was witnessed following her fifth gold medal feat in Bridgetown in 2010. It was in sync with the mood in the country because of the hosting of the Common­ wealth Games and a large hall of a five­star hotel, booked to honour Mary in Delhi, was packed with mediapersons.

Eight years later, the legendary boxer — who has leapt several steps in terms of stature by securing other important medals, including an Olympics bronze — picked up an unprecedented sixth World title in an electrifying atmosphere in front of her home crowd. The country realised that, after the great Dhyan Chand, it had found a true international sporting icon in an Olympic discipline.