Mary Kom Quick Facts
| Full Name | Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom |
| Profession | Boxer, former Rajya Sabha member |
| Date of Birth | 24 November 1982 |
| Birthplace | Kagathei, Churachandpur district, Manipur |
| Height | 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) |
| Weight Categories | 46 kg (pinweight), 48 kg (light flyweight), 51 kg (flyweight) |
| Active Years | 2000 to 2022 (amateur) |
| Nationality | Indian |
Why Mary Kom Matters
Few Indian athletes have stayed at the top of a combat sport for as long as Mary Kom. Her first world medal came in 2001 and her last in 2019, a span of nearly two decades in which women’s boxing went from a fringe discipline to an Olympic sport. She won world titles before and after motherhood, moved between weight classes as the Olympic programme changed, and turned a small north-eastern state into a recognised source of Indian boxing talent. Her success also shaped public conversation about women in contact sports, helped by a 2014 Hindi biopic, and gave younger boxers such as Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain a clear template of what was possible.
Mary Kom Major Results
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | World Championships, Scranton | Silver (48 kg) |
| 2002 | World Championships, Antalya | Gold |
| 2005 | World Championships, Podolsk | Gold |
| 2006 | World Championships, New Delhi | Gold |
| 2008 | World Championships, Ningbo | Gold |
| 2010 | World Championships, Bridgetown | Gold |
| 2010 | Asian Games, Guangzhou | Bronze (flyweight) |
| 2012 | Olympic Games, London | Bronze (flyweight) |
| 2014 | Asian Games, Incheon | Gold (flyweight) |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast | Gold (48 kg) |
| 2018 | World Championships, New Delhi | Gold (48 kg) |
| 2019 | World Championships, Ulan-Ude | Bronze (51 kg) |
She also won five Asian Championship gold medals (2003, 2005, 2010, 2012 and 2017) and silver medals in 2008 and 2021.
Early Life and Family
Mary Kom was born on 24 November 1982 in Kagathei village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district to Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, who worked as tenant farmers. She helped on the family’s fields while attending school and was drawn to athletics before switching to boxing around 2000, inspired in part by Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh’s 1998 Asian Games gold. Her early coaching came in Imphal, including under state coach M. Narjit Singh.
Breakthrough: A World Medal Within a Year of Taking Up Boxing
Mary Kom’s rise was unusually fast. After winning state and national titles in 2000, she travelled to the inaugural Women’s World Championships in Scranton, USA, in 2001 and came home with a silver medal. A year later in Antalya she won her first world title, and she defended it in 2005 and again in front of a home crowd in New Delhi in 2006.
Mary Kom Career Journey
After a break following the birth of her twin sons in 2007, she returned to win world titles in 2008 and 2010. When women’s boxing joined the Olympics in 2012 with only three weight classes, she had to move up from 48 kg to 51 kg against naturally bigger opponents, and still reached the podium in London. Asian Games gold followed in 2014. She then dropped back to 48 kg to win Commonwealth Games gold and a record sixth world title in 2018, before taking 51 kg bronze at the 2019 Worlds. Her final Olympic appearance was at Tokyo 2020, where she lost a close round-of-16 bout. Between 2016 and 2022 she also served as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha.
Mary Kom Records and Milestones
- Six world titles, the most by any woman at the World Boxing Championships
- Eight World Championship medals between 2001 and 2019
- First Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal (London 2012)
- First Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games gold (Incheon 2014)
- Received all three Padma awards for sport: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan
Mary Kom Awards and Honours
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Arjuna Award |
| 2006 | Padma Shri |
| 2009 | Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) |
| 2013 | Padma Bhushan |
| 2020 | Padma Vibhushan |
Mary Kom Boxing Style
Mary Kom was a compact, high-tempo boxer who relied on footwork and ring craft rather than reach. Usually the shorter fighter, she worked behind a busy jab, slipped inside to land quick combinations and then moved out of range before opponents could reset. Her reading of judges and her ability to adjust tactics between rounds became more pronounced later in her career, when she leaned on experience and timing rather than sheer volume. The move to 51 kg for the Olympics exposed the limits of her size, which makes her medals in that division a notable part of her record.
Life After Retirement and Current Role (2025-26)
In January 2024 reports said Mary Kom had retired because international amateur rules bar boxers over 40, though she said her comments had been misquoted. In late March 2026, aged 43, she told reporters that age limits had closed the amateur route but that she was weighing an opportunity in professional boxing. No professional bout had been announced as of early October 2026. She remains involved with her academy in Manipur and with sports promotion events.
On 6 September 2026 she entered Bigg Boss 20, hosted by Salman Khan on Colors and JioHotstar, as one of 16 contestants. She was among the nominated contestants in early October, but no eviction took place in the week ending 10 October 2026, so she remained in the house at the time of writing.
Mary Kom Net Worth and Brand Value
Mary Kom has not disclosed her wealth, and the figures below are estimates published by media outlets rather than official numbers. Reported estimates vary considerably and should be read as indicative only.
| Estimated Net Worth | ₹33 crore to ₹42 crore (approx. US$4 million to US$5 million), per Dainik Jagran as cited by Outlook Business, 2025 |
| Brand Value | Not publicly estimated |
| Key Brand Endorsements | Nimbus Realty (ambassador since 2023, renewed in August 2026); earlier reported associations include BSNL, Bournvita, Puma and Dalmia Bharat |
| Main Income Sources | Endorsements, appearance and speaking fees, television work, past prize money and government cash awards, and her share from the 2014 biopic |
Personal Life
Mary Kom married Karong Onkholer (Onler) Kom in 2005. The couple separated under Kom customary law in December 2023, which she confirmed publicly in April 2025. She has three sons and an adopted daughter. She lives in Faridabad, Haryana, and keeps close ties with Manipur through her academy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mary Kom
How many world titles has Mary Kom won?
Six, in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018. She also won a silver in 2001 and a bronze in 2019.
Has Mary Kom retired from boxing?
Her amateur career has effectively ended because of the over-40 age rule. In 2026 she said she was considering professional boxing, but no pro fight had been announced by October 2026.
Is Mary Kom in Bigg Boss 20?
Yes. She entered the house on 6 September 2026 and was still a contestant as of 10 October 2026.
What is Mary Kom’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at ₹33 crore to ₹42 crore, according to Dainik Jagran figures cited by Outlook Business in 2025. She has not confirmed any figure.
