The journey of this little girl from Moirang Lamkhani village to fame was full of hardships. But Mary Kom never lost her focus.

After winning two successive world titles and two Asian championships, MC Mary Kom is well within her rights to ask the almighty why she was born in India. The day, the small wonder from Manipur created history in Moscow, newspapers in her country spent more space on Ganguly-Chappel spat rather than highlighting her achievements. The newspapers had space for every kind of news except her triumph.

After getting such a lukewarm response from her countrymen after winning world championship, Mary Kom might wonder what more she had to achieve to get a prominent position in national dailies. She had every reason to feel sad as even after losing a match the cricketers get more coverage than her world championship victory.

But those who know Mary Kom are confident that the neglect will make the girl from Churachandpur more determined. Her strive for success will continue till the time she decides to say good bye to the boxing arena. “She is so focused that anything other than performance in the ring never bothers her,” says a childhood friend of Mary Kom.

Indeed boxing is everything to Mary Kom. The journey of the little girl from Moirang Lamkhani village to fame was full of hardships. Mary Kom came to Imphal to become an athlete. She strived hard but could not achieve anything significant. At that time, one of her friend introduced Mary Kom to boxing. Women Boxing was at a nascent stage then. It was love at first sight. Her parents were reluctant. After all boxing is a sport for men, they argued. But seeing the determination in her eyes, they reluctantly allowed Mary Kom to opt for boxing. And rest, as they say, is history.

Till today determination is her main forte. She hates to lose. Silver medal in world championship in   2001, her first international exposure could not satisfy her. “I want gold,” Mary Kom stressed. There were many who thought at that time that the girl was over ambitious. Frankly speaking they cannot be blamed as often we have seen with one or two significant achievements, Indian sportspersons lose their focus. But Mary Kom is made with a different metal. She has nerves made of steel, swiftness of a leopard and desire to climb to the top.

Thus, those know her were not astonished when Marykom won gold in the world championship in 2002, followed by two Asian championships in 2003 and 2005.  And she has successfully defended her title in the recently concluded world championship.

But the Manipuri girl is still not satisfied. She now wants to win an Olympic medal.

Even at this hour of glory Mary Kom remains the sweet next door girl. Enviable success has not affected her simplicity. “I never thought I’d be where I am now. The state association helped us grow and once we were in the national camp Boxing Federation has taken care of us,” said Mary Kom after winning the world title.

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