Mumbai: Star Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom today received Rs 5 lakh for setting up a boxing academy in her native state of Manipur from a private insurance company through its initiative "Need for Champions".
The London Olympic Games bronze medal winner received the cheque with her husband Onler and thanked "Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance" for supporting her career from early on through its philanthropic arm - Edelgive.
"Sponsors' support is very important for getting medals and producing champions. Through my academy I will be trying to not only produce boxers from Manipur but from all over India," said the five-time world champion who won the 51kg Asian Games gold medal in Incheon last month.
"After seven years women's boxing is becoming tougher with more and more competition at the Olympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games," said the Manipur star.
"Women's boxing is being recognised in the country because of my hard work, dedication and determination to the sport," she added.
Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha, who is the CEO of not-for-profit sports promotion organisation Olympic Gold Quest said that among the list of OGQ-supported athletes, the Manipur boxer "is most recognised".
