Mary Kom restructures her boxing academy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 03, 2013: Olympic bronze medalist MC Mary Kom has begun ground development works to restructure her boxing school at Langol close to her Langol games village residence in Imphal West, fulfilling her students to get a bigger space to learn the tough and beautiful game of boxing.

"My first priority is to construct a small indoor hall and a boxing ring inside it to ensure my students, who are currently undergoing training at the park exposing to rains and public view, continue to practice at the new hall," said Mary.

The Okram Ibobi Singh government has recently offered 3.30 acres of land to the ace pugilist to set up her academy christened "MC Mary Kom regional Boxing Foundation".

Construction of the main structure of the boxing institute is yet to be started as some government agencies and corporate giants, that promised to donate certain fund to set up the academy, are yet to strike a final deal on the matter, said Mary, mother of two.

Established in 2006, the foundation, which is currently being run at Mary's residence, has produced hordes of excellent boxers who won laurels in various state and national level championships.

She spends over Rs 50,000 per month in running the foundation.

32 young boxers belonging to various communities from different parts of the state are undergoing training with free accommodation and dieting.

Most of them also go to nearby schools.

The five time world women boxing champion, who has been promoted to the post of superintendent of police (sports) in recognition to her Olympic feat, said once the construction of the new hall is completed her students would comfortably undergo training during monsoon.

Mary's husband Onler Kom, the force behind her success, said according to an architect, Rs 15 lakh would be invested for setting up the new hall within which the ring would be erected.

"We are targeting to complete construction of the hall as well as the ring within the next few months," said Onler.

Notably a group of twenty-two young Manipur Finance Service (MFS) officers donated certain amount contributed from their first salary to the academy on Wednesday at a simple function held at Mary's residence.

Onler said that the foundation is a trust and a non-profit sports academy especially meant for the under-privileged youths with a vision "Quality Boxers with Prestigious Sports Medals from under-privileged potentials".

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