Mary Kom

Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom (born 1 March 1983), also known as MC Mary Kom, or simply Mary Kom, is a boxer from Manipur, India. She is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. Nicknamed "Magnificent Mary", she is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning the bronze medal. She has also been ranked as No. 4 AIBA World Women's Ranking Flyweight category. She became the first Indian woman boxer to get a Gold Medal in the Asian Games in 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. Mary Kom is supported by Olympic Gold Quest.

Early life

Kom was born in Kangathei, in Churachandpur district of Manipur in eastern India. Her parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, worked in jhum fields. She did her education from Loktak Christian Model High School, Moirang, up to her class VI standard and attended St. Xavier Catholic School, Moirang, up to class VIII. She then moved to Adimjati High School, Imphal, for her schooling for class IX and X, but was unable to pass the matriculation exam. Not wishing to reappear for them, she quit her school and gave her examination from NIOS, Imphal and graduation from Churachandpur College.

Mary Kom (film)

Mary Kom is a 2014 Indian biographical sports film directed by Omung Kumar and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film stars Priyanka Chopra in the lead role as the eponymous boxer, with Darshan Kumar and Sunil Thapa in supporting roles as her husband and mentor respectively. The film depicts Kom's journey of becoming a boxer to her victory at the 2008 World Boxing Championships in Ningbo. Chopra made her first appearance as a playback singer (in Hindi) with the lullaby named "Chaoro" in the film.

The feature was developed by writer Saiwyn Quadras, who suggested the storyline to Kumar when Kom, despite her numerous achievements, was not a familiar name in India. Kumar met Kom to ask her permission for the film, much before her bronze medal victory at the 2012 Summer Olympics, which brought her recognition. Chopra underwent extensive physical training for three months to attain a muscular physique. She also trained for the sport and Kom's distinct boxing styles. Principal photography started in June 2013 at Filmistan Studio, where only the boxing sequences were filmed continuously for twenty days. After the plans to shoot in Kom's hometown Manipur were dropped due to safety concerns, the film was shot in Dharamshala and Manali, where a major portion of Manipur was recreated.