India's Golden Girls

They are the epitome of grit and grace, and have brought the country much pride and joy. Meet the superwomen who made India’s golden dreams come true at the Commonwealth Games this year.

- Anindita Ghosh, Neeti Jaychander and Nikita Sawant

MARY KOM, 35,

IS THE FIRST INDIAN WOMAN BOXER TO WIN GOLD AT THE 2018 COMMONWEALTH GAMES. SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN BOXER TO BRING HOME A GOLD MEDAL FROM THE 2014 ASIAN GAMES, AND THE ONLY INDIAN WOMAN BOXER TO QUALIFY FOR THE 2012 SUMMER OLYMPICS, WHERE SHE WON A BRONZE MEDAL. WITH SO MANY FIRSTS TO HER NAME, WE FIND OUT HOW SHE EXCELS AT HER SPORT.

KILLER INSTINCT

Chungneijang Mary Kom Hmangte, popularly known as Mary Kom, tells us where she draws her strength from, every time she enters the boxing ring

What does winning gold at CWG mean to you at this juncture of your career? The CWG gold is significant to me because while I have won medals at the Asian Games, the Olympics and the World Championships, I had not won a CWG medal. It was important for me to make history, for my nation and myself.

You have had to deal with a lot of negative comments from people who had doubts about your ability. How do you remain positive? I have had to face many challenges in my career, like being taunted for taking up a ‘manly’ sport such as boxing. However, I have never let it affect me. In fact, I have worked doubly hard and even if some people don’t like me, when I am in the ring, no one can touch me. I truly believe that there is nothing that a woman can’t do and I am always thinking positive.

You have said it before that what sets you apart from other boxers is your mental strength. What does strength mean to you? Strength is everything to me; not just in my career, but also at home. If I am not mentally strong, I can’t do anything. I think women have to be stronger because they have so many responsibilities and play so many roles.