NEW DELHI: Think MC Mary Kom and you will think of a champion boxer, a five Time World champion. But what a lot of people don't know is the work being done behind the scenes by Mary and her husband Onler Karong Kom to prepare the next generation of Indian boxers. Two youngsters, who are being trained at their academy in Manipur, in particular, have a very special connection with Mary and Onler.
In 2006, Mary Kom and her husband Onler went to meet their relatives in Samulamlan, a rural village in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. That's when Mary and her husband heard the news of two young children in the village, who were battling hunger and poverty, after losing their parents to illness some years ago.
Mary, who was then pregnant with her twins, and Onler decided immediately to meet the kids and took them under their wings.
12 years down the line, the two kids - S. Nengneihat Kom and Ningthoujam Rohit Singh – are being trained to become future boxing superstars.
"We were eager to meet them. I was worried about Mary as she was pregnant. But, she was adamant about meeting these kids. Both their parents died because of illness. They were 9 and 5 when Mary and I brought them to our place. Since then, they are staying with us," Onler told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
Nengneihat and Rohit, who are now 21 and 16 respectively, train at Mary Kom's academy in Manipur and stay with the couple in their house, along with their three sons (twins Rechungvar and Khupneivar and Prince). The diet, travel costs and all training costs are all taken care of by Mary and Onler, who have been raising Nengneihat and Rohit like their own children.
"They were not very good in academics. After a lot of efforts, we decided to just make them focus on boxing. They have talent and eagerness to learn," Onler said.
"Whenever Mary gets time from her busy schedule, she helps train them. The two kids are very talented. We can see a bright future for them. They train at home and at the academy" Onler told TimesofIndia.com.
Training under the tutelage of the London Olympics bronze medallist, Nengneihat and Rohit are seen learning the skills required to become champions of the ring.
The results are already showing.
Nengneihat is a senior National Women's boxing bronze medalist in the 48 kg category and Rohit is the current Manipur state champion in the 57 kg category.
But, Mary and Onler are yet to decide whether their future lies in amateur or professional boxing.
"We have sent them to many places and centres for training. They are talented, there is no doubt about that. I will decide according to their performance in the future," Onler said.
Mary is often busy with her training abroad, but she always keeps track of Nengneihat and Rohit's training schedule.
"Mary is always in touch with them. She always says – these kids will go a long way. Even when she is abroad or outside Manipur, she keeps a tab on their activities," Onler said.
"Once I asked Nengneihat who does she admire most and she said "I want to become the next Mary Kom," Onler signed off.
As Mary and her team prepare for the upcoming Women's Boxing World Championships in New Delhi, along with targeting a historic sixth title, they will also have one eye on the progress being made by Nengneihat, Rohit and the other young boxers who are being trained to become future Indian champions.
In 2006, Mary Kom and her husband Onler went to meet their relatives in Samulamlan, a rural village in the Churachandpur district of Manipur. That's when Mary and her husband heard the news of two young children in the village, who were battling hunger and poverty, after losing their parents to illness some years ago.
Mary, who was then pregnant with her twins, and Onler decided immediately to meet the kids and took them under their wings.
12 years down the line, the two kids - S. Nengneihat Kom and Ningthoujam Rohit Singh – are being trained to become future boxing superstars.
"We were eager to meet them. I was worried about Mary as she was pregnant. But, she was adamant about meeting these kids. Both their parents died because of illness. They were 9 and 5 when Mary and I brought them to our place. Since then, they are staying with us," Onler told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.
Nengneihat and Rohit, who are now 21 and 16 respectively, train at Mary Kom's academy in Manipur and stay with the couple in their house, along with their three sons (twins Rechungvar and Khupneivar and Prince). The diet, travel costs and all training costs are all taken care of by Mary and Onler, who have been raising Nengneihat and Rohit like their own children.
"They were not very good in academics. After a lot of efforts, we decided to just make them focus on boxing. They have talent and eagerness to learn," Onler said.
"Whenever Mary gets time from her busy schedule, she helps train them. The two kids are very talented. We can see a bright future for them. They train at home and at the academy" Onler told TimesofIndia.com.
Training under the tutelage of the London Olympics bronze medallist, Nengneihat and Rohit are seen learning the skills required to become champions of the ring.
The results are already showing.
Nengneihat is a senior National Women's boxing bronze medalist in the 48 kg category and Rohit is the current Manipur state champion in the 57 kg category.
But, Mary and Onler are yet to decide whether their future lies in amateur or professional boxing.
"We have sent them to many places and centres for training. They are talented, there is no doubt about that. I will decide according to their performance in the future," Onler said.
Mary is often busy with her training abroad, but she always keeps track of Nengneihat and Rohit's training schedule.
"Mary is always in touch with them. She always says – these kids will go a long way. Even when she is abroad or outside Manipur, she keeps a tab on their activities," Onler said.
"Once I asked Nengneihat who does she admire most and she said "I want to become the next Mary Kom," Onler signed off.
As Mary and her team prepare for the upcoming Women's Boxing World Championships in New Delhi, along with targeting a historic sixth title, they will also have one eye on the progress being made by Nengneihat, Rohit and the other young boxers who are being trained to become future Indian champions.
Source : timesofindia[dot]indiatimes[dot]com
No comments:
Post a Comment