Mary Kom is an Indian boxer from Manipur who won six world championship titles and an Olympic bronze medal. She is the only woman to win the World Amateur Boxing Championship six times, and the only boxer with eight World Championship medals. She entered the Bigg Boss 20 house on the 6 September 2026 premiere.
Nicknamed Magnificent Mary, she was the first Indian woman boxer to win Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2016 and received the Padma Vibhushan in 2020.
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| Full name | Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 November 1982 (some profiles list 1 March 1983), Churachandpur, Manipur |
| Sport | Boxing, 48 kg and 51 kg |
| Height | About 5 feet 2 inches (158 cm) |
| Honours | Olympic bronze 2012, six world titles, Asian Games gold 2014, Commonwealth gold 2018 |
| Awards | Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award |
| Family | Married K. Onler Kom in 2005, divorced December 2023; three sons, one adopted daughter |
| Bigg Boss 20 | Contestant since 6 September 2026 |
| @mcmary.kom |
Early Life and Family
Mary Kom was born in Kangathei village in Churachandpur district, rural Manipur. Her parents, Mangte Tonpa Kom and Mangte Akham Kom, were tenant farmers. She grew up helping with farm work, studying and running track.
She studied at Loktak Christian Model High School up to class six, then St. Xavier Catholic School up to class eight. She moved to Adimjati High School in Imphal but did not clear matriculation, later completing it through NIOS and graduating from Churachandpur College.
As a schoolgirl she preferred athletics, especially javelin and the 400 metres. Boxing came later.
How Mary Kom Started Boxing
Dingko Singh’s gold at the 1998 Asian Games inspired a wave of Manipuri athletes to try boxing. Mary Kom was one of them. She began training in 2000 under coach K. Kosana Meitei in Imphal.
Her father, a former wrestler, did not know about it. He found out when her photograph appeared in a newspaper after she won the state championship in 2000. He had worried the sport would damage her face, and only backed her three years later.
She trained with M. Narjit Singh at Khuman Lampak and later at the Imphal Sports Academy. Coaches remember her as a quick learner who never missed a session.
World Titles and Asian Golds
Mary Kom won her first world title in 2002 in Antalya, Turkey, in the 45 kg category. She was 19. More followed in 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010, a run that made her the most consistent boxer in the lighter divisions.
She won the first Women’s National Boxing Championship in Chennai in 2001 and took Asian championship golds in 2003, 2005, 2010 and 2012. She stepped away from competition between 2005 and 2007 for her marriage and the birth of her twins, then returned to win again.
The Move to 51 kg and London 2012
When the sport opened the Olympics to women in only three weight classes, the lightest divisions were dropped. Mary Kom moved up to 51 kg, where she faced taller opponents.
She qualified for London 2012 as the only Indian woman boxer in the draw. She beat Karolina Michalczuk of Poland 19-14 and Maroua Rahali of Tunisia 15-6. She lost to Nicola Adams of Britain 6-11 in the semi-final and took bronze.
Manipur awarded her Rs 50 lakh and two acres of land. Rajasthan, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh announced cash awards as well.
Asian Games and Commonwealth Gold
She won bronze at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou and gold at Incheon 2014, beating Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova in the 51 kg final.
The Commonwealth Games had never included her weight class. Women’s light flyweight was added for Gold Coast 2018, and she won gold in the 48 kg division on 14 April 2018.
She missed qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympics and said before Tokyo that the 2020 Games would be her last.
Sixth World Title and Records
On 24 November 2018, Mary Kom won her sixth world championship gold in New Delhi. No other woman had done it. She is also the only female boxer to medal at each of the first seven world championships.
Manipur gave her the title Meethoi Leima, meaning exceptional lady, at a ceremony in Imphal in December 2018. She added a fifth Asian championship gold in 2017 at Ho Chi Minh City and a seventh Asian medal in 2021.
Tokyo 2020 and After
Her Olympic career ended in the round of 16 in Tokyo. She lost a split decision to Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia, a boxer she had beaten twice before. She said later that she had not understood the verdict when the referee raised Valencia’s hand.
The International Olympic Committee named her a boxing athlete ambassador for the Tokyo Games in October 2019. She remained the public face of Indian women’s boxing through that cycle.
Awards and Recognition
Her national honours run from the Arjuna Award in 2003 to the Padma Vibhushan in 2020. She received the Padma Shri in 2006, the Padma Bhushan in 2013 and the Khel Ratna in 2009.
The International Boxing Association gave her its first AIBA Legends award and made her an ambassador for women’s boxing. She holds honorary doctorates from North-Eastern Hill University and Kaziranga University.
Rajya Sabha and Public Life
Mary Kom was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in April 2016 and served until 2022. She raised questions on sport, nutrition and youth welfare during that term.
She has also campaigned for animal rights with PETA India, appearing in an advertisement against elephants in circuses and backing a humane education programme for schools.
Mary Kom Height and Physical Stats
Mary Kom is listed at about 5 feet 2 inches, or 158 cm. Some profiles say 5 feet 3 inches. She competed at 45 kg, 46 kg and 48 kg before moving to 51 kg for the Olympic cycle.
Her date of birth is also reported in two forms, 24 November 1982 and 1 March 1983.
Mary Kom Net Worth
Mary Kom has never disclosed her net worth. Bio profiles estimate it between roughly Rs 20 crore and Rs 40 crore, counting prize money, government rewards and endorsements.
The verified numbers are smaller and specific. She received Rs 50 lakh and two acres of land from Manipur after London 2012, plus Rs 25 lakh from Rajasthan, Rs 20 lakh from Assam and Rs 10 lakh from Arunachal Pradesh.
Personal Life, Marriage and Divorce
She met footballer Karung Onkholer Kom, known as Onler, in 2000 after her luggage was stolen while travelling. He was studying law at Delhi University and helped her. They married in 2005 and have three sons, twins born in 2007 and another born in 2013. In 2018 they adopted a girl named Merilyn.
The marriage ended in divorce in December 2023 under Kom customary law. In 2026, on Aap Ki Adalat, she said her husband could not build a football career and accused him of taking her earnings. Onler made allegations of his own, and she later issued a public apology.
She lives in the Surajkund area of Faridabad, Haryana, and keeps her sons largely out of the public eye.
Mary Kom in Bigg Boss 20
Mary Kom entered the Bigg Boss 20 house on 6 September 2026 with 15 other contestants in the Salman Khan hosted season. At 43, she is among the oldest in the house, according to Rediff’s launch report.
Her casting was unusual for the format, which usually draws actors, creators and reality-show regulars. Early live updates showed her on kitchen duty with Love Gill, Aasif Khan and Aamrapali Dubey.
She has no entertainment-industry image to protect, which cuts both ways in a house built on conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mary Kom?
Mary Kom is an Indian boxer from Manipur, a six-time world champion and an Olympic bronze medallist. She is a contestant on Bigg Boss 20.
How old is Mary Kom?
Mary Kom was born on 24 November 1982, which makes her 43. Some profiles list 1 March 1983 instead.
What is Mary Kom’s height?
Mary Kom is listed at about 5 feet 2 inches or 158 cm, and fought in the 48 kg and 51 kg categories.
How many world titles has Mary Kom won?
Mary Kom has won six world championship golds, in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018.
Did Mary Kom win an Olympic medal?
Yes. Mary Kom won bronze at the London 2012 Olympics in the 51 kg category, the first Games to include women’s boxing.
What is Mary Kom’s net worth?
Mary Kom has not disclosed it. Bio profiles estimate roughly Rs 20 crore to Rs 40 crore, including prize money and endorsements.
Is Mary Kom married?
Mary Kom married K. Onler Kom in 2005. They divorced in December 2023 and have three sons together.
Why is Mary Kom called Magnificent Mary?
Magnificent Mary is the nickname the International Boxing Association attached to her record six world titles in the lighter weight classes.
Is Mary Kom in Bigg Boss 20?
Yes, Mary Kom entered the Bigg Boss 20 house on 6 September 2026 as one of 16 contestants.
What is Mary Kom’s Instagram handle?
Mary Kom’s Instagram handle is @mcmary.kom.