Knocking out an opponent is just one of the very few things, Mary Kom has accomplished over a period of time.

Her life has changed drastically ever since the former’s appearances in the boxing ring.

The world might have seen many top notch female boxers but India, hardly produced any. But the year 2000, a lady from the north east, a region of India which is highly traceable and the natives are ‘ghettoed’ by the citizens, gave this country a rising star.

Not a young woman or a tall, dark and handsome man but a mother of two!

Yes, her name was Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom. Mary was born to a poor tribal family in Manipur’s Kangathei village. Her grandmother named her ‘Mary’ which meant ‘prosperous’ in their lingual tribe.

It was not long before Mary found inspiration from her native fellow boxer Dingko Singh who had clinched gold at the 1998 Asian Games.

Since then, the lady was found herself into the sport so much that she moved to Imphal to train in athletics. Even after ignoring her family’s calls for not taking up sports, Mary tried her level best to get into the sporting world. She would train late into the nights, even after academies’ students went away into their homes but the former tried punching the bag so hard, eventually it would fall.

In the year 2001, Mary lost in the final and had to settle for a silver medal at the AIBA World Championships.

A year later, she returned, now stronger and competitive, clinched her first ever gold medal at the event.

Down the years, Mary Kom continued to dominate the women’s boxing category till the year 2006 where she took an eminent break due to the birth of her twins. She returned onto the boxing ring once again, in 2008, winning her 4th successive World Championships.

Glories followed for the ‘Magnificent Mary’, a title stated by the All India Boxing Association for her past achievements.

Mary kept getting the rewards for the patience and hard work, she had put in. After all those troubles in the boxing ring and outside it, Mary walked away with many posthumous titles that included the Arjuna Award in 2004, Padma Shri Award in 2006 and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2009 for her achievements in Boxing.

That did not stop there, as Mary became the first female Indian boxer to win a medal (bronze) at the Olympics (2012). And since then, a mother of two and proud wife, has not looked back. With some efforts from the government and charitable trusts, Mary is also a proud owner of a India’s first ever ‘female fight club’.

This country has seen some major downpour over the years.

Especially the women, who have been neglected, ignored and ashamed by the male superiority! Our politicians, sportstars, directors, chairpersons, bank managers etc. have all seen the rise of the alpha male. Women were never counted and it will never be this way but, there’s always a but!

Women have matched toe to toe with the male counterparts in our country and the best example one can give is none other than MC Mary Kom.

A daughter, mother, wife and a player; Mary has carved a niche for other women as well, who are fighting their own battles.

Priyanka Chopra might have brought alive the character of ‘Mary’ on the big screen, but the legacy of ‘Magnificent Mary’ lives on.

The post How MC #MaryKom Has Changed The Perception Of Women In India Across The Globe appeared first on Youngisthan.in.

India did well in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Even though the gold count was less (15), the players had a good showing with some new faces impressing one and all.

Thus, the ‘same old story’ begins with our medal winners returning home to rousing welcome and upon that, the State Government or the National Ruling party announces cash rewards to the winner or a job in the services.

To begin with, that’s not bad at all but slowly and steadily, it turns out be a hoax call.

Many have been duped over the period and one being amongst them is the recent silver medallist, Anisa Sayyed.

The shooter, who was also a winner the 2010 CWG, clinched silver in the just-concluded edition in Glasgow.

In 2010, she was promised a job in the government but is still waiting for it. For the past three years, the Haryana government is yet to fulfil Anisa’s job aspirations, leaving the champion shooter with no option but to voice her aggravation.

In an interview to the press the 33-year was quoted, “I have been waiting for three years, waiting for that promised job. But it has still not seen the light of the day. If they think I don’t deserve this then they should not keep me waiting. That’s not fair on an athlete who has and continues to strive for international success.”

Her woeful plight was that the Haryana state government’s job hoax has yet to see the light of the day. After her 2010 exploits, Anisa Sayyed was offered a job by the Hooda-led government due to which the former quit the Railways job and also ignored the interest from Maharashtra government.

Is this what our medal hopefuls are fighting or slogging out for?

Our ‘daze’ government hardly puts a thing right and with such shoddy work, who would want to believe in their words. Anisa is not the only one to be hard done by!

Ace shuttler Sania Nehwal was amongst these deceptive appeals from the government. After winning a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, the then chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Kiran Kumar Reddy had announced a prize-money of Rs. 50 lakh for Nehwal but after the Telangana separation, the Hyderabad-born did not receive the cash reward.

State Governments from across the country announced various cash rewards and prizes for our medal winners after the latter’s heroics at the Commonwealth Games.

But one question for the government – where were you when they needed the most?

Where are the facilities and practice grounds?

Do they know who the hell is Sita Sahu and what she is upto?

Sita Sahu was a two-time bronze winner at the 2011 Athens Special Olympics and now sells gol-gappas and papdi chats on the streets. Sita is one of the many athletes in India who is forced into poverty due to the appalling work rate of our government. Atleast, the likes of Sita can run their homes and families rather than rotting on and living a stricken life.

‘Acche Din’ is what PM Narendra Modi promised to the nation prior taking the chair.

As of now Modi must ensure that our athletes receive the top-most facility to work upon and the most importantly, the financial support which is lacking.

If both the needs are in place, a top-four finish in the Rio Olympics is not far away!

Believe me, nobody can stop Indians!

The post In India, Selling Chaat Is More Profitable Than Shooting At The Olympics! Is Our Sportsperson Worth It? appeared first on Youngisthan.in.