If men can, why can't i: Mary Kom

It was 8 pm. Mary Kom was having a tough time trying to keep her twins Rechungvar and Khupneivar from fighting. But she didn’t lose her patience and kept the conversation going.

“I’ve faced problems and challenges ever since I started boxing. Men always used to pass comments. While some were good, others were meant to put you down. They were discouraging and said that I would not be able to succeed.  The next challenge was after marriage. Everyone, mostly family and friends, tried brainwashing my parents so that I would give up the sport. The third challenge that I encountered was post pregnancy and the final hurdle was shifting my weight category for the Olympics,” she said.

A fighter by birth, Mary refused to give in and kept following her dreams.  “My funda was simple. If men can, why can’t I? This turned out to be my strength,” she said.

She said that discrimination had always existed but that only made her stronger. “Men always discriminate. The scenario has changed as people have started supporting women, not only me but also in other sports,” she added.