INDIA’S latest sporting hero Mary Kom will receive five million rupees ($90,400/£57,625.50) for winning a bronze in the Olympic women’s boxing competition, a report said on Friday (August 10).
The mother-of-two from Manipur had to settle for bronze along with the other losing semi-finalist after she was beaten 11-6 by Britain’s world number two Nicola Adams in the 51kg category on Wednesday (August 8).
The Manipur government decided to honour Kom after a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Ibobi Singh gave its approval, a state spokesman said capital Imphal.
“Kom has made the name of Manipur known in the sports arena in the world and brought prestige for the whole country,” the government spokesman said.
The boxer, who won five world titles in the 46kg and 48kg categories, had to move up a weight category to fight in London since her favoured events were not part of the inaugural Olympic competition in women’s boxing.
Kom would also be promoted to the rank of additional police superintendent and given two acres (0.8 hectare) of land in the state, he said.
“We are certainly proud of her,” chief minister Singh said at the cabinet meeting.
The boxer, who took up sport as a path out of poverty, is the only Indian boxer to win a medal in the London Games.
Her feat ensured India will return from London with its biggest Olympic haul, surpassing the one gold and two bronzes it won in Beijing four years ago.
India has so far won a silver through pistol shooter Vijay Kumar and three bronze medals by badminton star Saina Nehwal, rifle marksman Gagan Narang and Kom.
