NEW DELHI: On the seventh day of ‘Khel Mahakumbh,’ an event organized by Krida Bharti and TYC, legendary international boxer and former Rajya Sabha MP Mary Kom actively participated in an insightful session of Khel Samvad Sangam. During the event, she praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his steadfast commitment to supporting athletes and encouraged young sportspersons to take on the responsibility of winning medals for the nation.
Recalling her own journey, Mary Kom shared, “As a child, I played various sports without any knowledge of boxing. Growing up in poverty, my meals mostly consisted of rice, but my love for sports never diminished. When I eventually took up boxing, I was determined to reach the pinnacle of success. My advice to aspiring athletes is straightforward—stay dedicated to one goal, maintain discipline, develop a strong mindset, and let your passion drive you forward. Achievements will naturally follow.”
She also highlighted the need for broader recognition of sports beyond cricket, lamenting that despite securing world championships against competitors from over 30 countries, women’s boxing still does not receive the widespread acknowledgment it deserves.
“Even after marriage and becoming a mother, I made a comeback to boxing with even greater determination because my hunger for success and winning medals never faded,” she added.
Meanwhile, the 70-meter archery competition witnessed impressive performances from young athletes who demonstrated exceptional precision. Gold medals were secured by Ishu Singh from Mathura in the Senior Boys category, Rakhi from Shamli in Senior Girls, Hari Shukla from Kanpur in Junior Boys, and Khushi Srivastava from Ghazipur in Junior Girls.
The panel of judges for the event included Vishal, Rajababu, and internationally acclaimed coach Vishwas. The grand sporting extravaganza is set to conclude on Thursday, with the state’s Sports Minister expected to preside over the closing ceremony.
The event also saw the presence of BJP MP from Odisha, Sukanto Kumar Panigrahi, and Patanjali’s Communication Head, Bajrang Dev, who attended as special guests.
Additionally, several key figures from Krida Bharti graced the occasion, including State Vice President Angad Singh, Regional Coordinator Rajat Dixit, Kashi Province President Pankaj Srivastava, and Kashi Province Vice President Dinesh Jaiswal, along with all officials and players associated with the organization.
