As a young girl “magnificent Mary” watched Jackie Chan’s stunts on the big screen before becoming India’s most prolific female boxer. The 28-year-old, who has won five consecutive world titles, took up the sport to ease the financial pressures on her farmer parents.
But Kom cites celebrated Indian boxer Dingko Singh, from her home city of Manipur, winning gold in the Asian Games in 1988 as her inspiration. Juggling life as a world-beating boxer, a mother of twin boys and a wife does not distract Kom from being a prime contender for Olympic gold next year, the first time women will be allowed to box at the Games.