Mumbai: Ace boxer and Olympic bronze medallist M C Mary Kom, whose life is the stuff of legends, wants other women to take inspiration from her just-released autobiography ‘Unbreakable’ and realise their dreams.
“The whole world knows about the struggles I went through. I have narrated everything that I had to in the book. All I hope for now is that other women take inspiration from the book and overcome challenges to achieve their dreams in any sphere of their lives,” the five-time world champion said at the launch of her autobiography ‘Unbreakable’ here last night.
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, present at the event, said, “It gives me immense pleasure and honour to stand beside a lady who is an idol to many. I feel privileged to launch the book and wish her the very best in life.”
Mary Kom, who won a bronze medal in the 51kg class in the 2012 London Olympics, said, “Amitabh sir was the first person who called me to congratulate me when I reached the quarter-finals at London Olympics. Today he is present in person for the release of the book and I could not have asked for more.”
The Manipuri boxer, whose life will be captured on silver screen soon, said she has many untold stories to share and this prompted her to write the book.
“There have been many things that were left untold in interviews. So I took this opportunity to reveal a lot about the stories of my fights in life, training and travels and being away from my husband.
“It was the story of how even a man can be the pillar of support in a woman’s life. It took more than a year for this book to come out. But I am glad that now a movie is being made on my life,” she said.
On the occasion, Mary Kom took a trip down the memory lane and described the first meeting with her husband, who according to her, has been a pillar of support in her sporting career.
“It was fate and we met by chance. In 2000, I boarded the train from Manipur for the Nationals to Bangalore. I lost my wallet in a previous train journey, so I strapped my suitcase that had my passport, money and other things with an iron rod to my wrist. But I woke up to find that my suitcase was gone.
“I came from a humble background and to get a new passport. I have never given up in any circumstance. But that day I contemplated ending my life. I was most worried about my passport as I had my first international tournament within a month or so,” the 30-year-old mother of two said.
She said her future husband Onler, who was then President of North East students body in Delhi, heard of the incident and offered to help her.
“We started to understand each other better and decided to get married (after a four-year courtship),” she recalled. (PTI)