Mary Kom is a legendary Indian boxer from Manipur who is loved and respected across the country. She is popularly known as Magnificent Mary. She became famous for winning six World Boxing Championships and an Olympic bronze medal in 2012.
Her journey from a small village to global success inspires many young athletes. Mary Kom is admired for her hard work, discipline, courage, and dedication to Indian sports.
Mary Kom’s 2019 World Championship Protest Rejected
At the 2019 World Boxing Championships, Mary Kom lost her semifinal match to Turkey’s Busenaz Cakiroglu. The judges gave a 1–4 decision, which the Indian team felt was unfair and did not reflect her performance in the bout.
After the match, Mary Kom and the Indian camp tried to file an official protest. They believed the judging was wrong and wanted the decision to be reviewed under competition rules.
However, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) rejected the protest, saying rules allow protests only for 3-2 or 3-1 decisions, not 1-4. Mary later tweeted her anger, tagging the Prime Minister and Sports Minister, asking the world to judge the fairness of the decision.
The 2019 Mary Kom vs Nikhat Zareen Controversy
In 2019, controversy arose when the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) chose Mary Kom for the World Championships without conducting trials, ignoring young boxer Nikhat Zareen, who demanded a fair chance to compete. This decision sparked outrage among fans and athletes.
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When questioned about Zareen’s demand, Mary Kom responded dismissively, saying, “Who is Nikhat Zareen? I don’t know her,” which intensified criticism and highlighted tensions between established and emerging athletes in Indian boxing.
The incident led to widespread debate on fairness in selection processes and brought attention to Nikhat Zareen’s talent, boosting her recognition and support within the boxing community.
2019 Boxing Trials: Mary Kom’s Cold Response to Zareen
In December 2019, after a heated debate over the 2020 Tokyo Olympics selection, Mary Kom and Nikhat Zareen faced each other in a trial match. The controversy stemmed from prior disagreements about fair selection and recognition of young talent.
Mary Kom won the bout 9-1 but refused to shake hands with Zareen and rebuffed her attempt at a hug. She later justified her actions, stating, “If she wants others to respect her, she should first respect others,” reflecting lingering tension and personal conflict between the seasoned champion and the rising boxer.
The incident sparked widespread discussion on sportsmanship and respect, drawing attention to Zareen’s potential and character in Indian boxing.
Mary Kom’s Tokyo 2020 Vest Controversy
During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she claimed she was forced to change her playing vest minutes before her last-16 bout, alleging it was a deliberate attempt to disturb her, as the same jersey had been fine in her previous match.
In the bout against Colombia’s Ingrit Valencia, Mary lost by 2-3. Frustrated, she described the defeat as “unfair” and accused the judges of “cheating,” highlighting her dissatisfaction with the match’s conduct and the sudden vest change.
The incident sparked debate over Olympic regulations, judging fairness, and athlete treatment, drawing sympathy for Mary Kom and criticism of procedural inconsistencies at the Games.
2026 Public Divorce: Mary Kom vs Karung Onkholer
In January 2026, it was revealed that Mary’s two-decade marriage to Karung Onkholer (Onler) had ended in a customary divorce in December 2023. The split reportedly stemmed from long-standing personal and financial disagreements between the couple.
The separation became public when Mary Kom accused Onler of financial mismanagement, claiming he took loans in her name, misused her earnings, and transferred property worth crores to himself without her consent. Onler denied these allegations, calling them “defamation,” and accused Mary of multiple extramarital affairs since 2013, which he claimed to have documented.
The scandal drew widespread media attention, dividing public opinion and raising questions about trust, transparency, and privacy in celebrity marriages.
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