Mary Kom
Mary Kom, whose full name is Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, is an Indian athlete and Olympic boxer who won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics. She is the only woman to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times, and she served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2016 to 2022. She entered Bigg Boss 20 in September 2026 and was evicted in Week 7 on 24 October 2026.
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Early Life and Career
Mary Kom was born on 24 November 1982 in Sagang village, Churachandpur district, Manipur. Her family moved to Kangathei village when she was five months old, and she grew up there. She studied at Loktak Christian Model High School in Moirang up to class 6 and St. Xavier Catholic School in Moirang up to class 8, then moved to Adimjati High School in Imphal for classes 9 and 10. After failing the matriculation exam, she left school and later graduated from Churachandpur College. She began boxing in 2000 and won a silver medal at her first World Championship in 2001. She went on to win the World Championship six times, in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018. Her autobiography, Unbreakable, was published in 2013.
Boxing achievements
Mary Kom won the bronze medal in the flyweight (51 kg) category at the London 2012 Olympics, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal. She won gold at the Asian Games in Incheon in 2014, the first Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games gold, and gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2018. She is a six-time Asian champion. She is the only boxer, male or female, to hold eight World Championship medals. Her honours include the Arjuna Award in 2003, the Padma Shri in 2006, the Khel Ratna in 2009, the Padma Bhushan in 2013 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2020. She competed at her last Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
Politics and public life
Mary Kom was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April 2016 and served as a member until 2022.
Bigg Boss 20 journey
Mary Kom entered Bigg Boss 20 on 6 September 2026 as the eighth entrant, with her twin sons seeing her off. Early in the season, her remarks about female athletes during a conversation with Qazi Touqeer drew backlash, and she issued a clarification on X on 13 September. She was nominated in Week 7, along with Uditi Singh, Amrapali Dubey, Manish Goel, Arishfa Khan, Love Gill and Gullu. She was evicted on 24 October 2026, in the Week 7 Weekend Ka Vaar episode (episode 49), hosted by guest host Rohit Shetty, after receiving the fewest votes and losing her second and final lifeline. Manish Goel lost one of his lifelines on the same night but was not evicted.
Mary Kom at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom |
| Known as | MC Mary Kom, Magnificent Mary |
| Date of birth | 24 November 1982 |
| Place of birth | Sagang village, Churachandpur district, Manipur |
| Height | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) |
| Education | Churachandpur College |
| Sport | Boxing (flyweight, 51 kg) |
| Olympic medal | Bronze, London 2012 |
| World championships | Six titles (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2018); eight medals in total |
| Asian Games | Gold, Incheon 2014 |
| Commonwealth Games | Gold, 2018 |
| Highest honour | Padma Vibhushan, 2020 |
| Rajya Sabha | Nominated member, 2016-2022 |
| Bigg Boss 20 | Entered 6 September 2026; evicted 24 October 2026 (Week 7) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary Kom?
Mary Kom, whose full name is Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom, is an Indian Olympic boxer and former nominated Rajya Sabha member. She won a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics and is a six-time world boxing champion.
When was Mary Kom born?
Mary Kom was born on 24 November 1982 in Sagang village, Churachandpur district, Manipur. Her family moved to Kangathei village when she was five months old, and she grew up there.
How many times has Mary Kom won the World Boxing Championship?
She has won the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times, in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018, and she holds eight World Championship medals in total.
When was Mary Kom evicted from Bigg Boss 20?
Mary Kom was evicted from Bigg Boss 20 on 24 October 2026, in Week 7, during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode hosted by guest host Rohit Shetty.
What honours has Mary Kom received?
She has received the Arjuna Award (2003), the Padma Shri (2006), the Khel Ratna (2009), the Padma Bhushan (2013) and the Padma Vibhushan (2020).
Was Mary Kom a member of Parliament?
Yes. She was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2016 to 2022.