Looking back at Mary Kom's records and achievements

Mary Kom, one of India’s finest boxers ever, was embroiled in confusion over her retirement status on Thursday. After speaking about the rules that bar her from competitions at the elite level, she clarified that it didn’t mean she had retired from boxing.

While dismissing the reports, the 41-year-old, a six-time world champion and 2012 Olympics medallist, said, “I haven’t announced retirement yet and I have been misquoted. I will personally come in front of media whenever I want to announce it. I have gone through some media reports stating that I have announced retirement and this is not true.”

The first female boxer in the history of the game to claim six world titles, Mary Kom won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games, held in London.

We take a look at some of Mary Kom’s records and achievements:

Taking part in the inaugural edition of the world meet in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2001, Kom, at the age of 18, displayed her impressive fighting skills. Kom had reached the final of the 48 kg category in that event. A year later, the Indian pugilist became the first from the country to claim a gold medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. Kom carried forward her brilliance in the pinweight division and went on to win the World Championships crowns at 2005, 2006, 2008 and the 2010 editions.

Kom secured one of the finest achievements of her career having won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Two years later, Kom achieved a stellar feat by winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. With this, she became India’s first-ever female boxer to clinch the prestigious gold medal at the Asian Games.

Following her 2012 London Olympics genius, Kom had to take a break from the sport as she was embracing motherhood for the third time. Kom regained her old form at the 2018 World Championships, held in New Delhi. Kom had recorded a convincing 5-0 win against Ukrainian opponent Hanna Okhota to win her sixth world title.

Kom has not been in action since her pre-quarter final defeat at the Tokyo Olympics. That was also her last appearance at the quadrennial event.