2017’s top 10 — Mary Kom: This mom still packs a punch

Once she got into the rigours of the camp, it did not take long for Mary Kom to find her competitive groove.

M. C. Mary Kom, the torch-bearer of women’s boxing in India.

The year 2017 was a memorable one for Indian boxing’s iconic figure, M. C. Mary Kom.

The ‘ageless wonder’ made a stunning comeback after being out of action for almost a year. Mary, whose previous appearance was at the World Championship in May 2016 — she missed the bus to the Rio Olympics — was busy with her commitments before making up her mind to return to the ring.

She rejoined the National camp in February but was not a regular till June due to various assignments, including a role as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

However, once she got into the rigours of the camp, it did not take long for Mary to find her competitive groove.

An exposure event in Mongolia in June and a training stint in Ireland, where she was honoured for her multiple medals (five World titles and a bronze at the Olympics), tuned her up for the Asian Championship in Ho Chi Minh City.

The experienced boxer, who has switched from 51 kg to her favourite 48 kg, produced a string of fine performances before beating North Korea’s Hyang Mi Kim by a unanimous decision in the final.

Mary’s Asian crown — her fifth — will keep her in good stead for the Commonwealth and Asian Games for 2018.