Page 9 - Seniors Today - August 21 Issue
P. 9
Last is the story of Saikhom Mirabai
Chanu, who won India’s first medal at the
Tokyo 2020 Olympics. To be humble in
victory and acknowledge all the people
who helped her on her way to the top
including the truck drivers who would
give her free rides to her training sessions
when she was growing up, speaks volumes
about the person Mirabai is. Mirabai also
The next is the story of Mary Kom who taught us, even if momentarily, to celebrate
has inspired generations of women and a silver medal instead of crying over a
men to take up boxing professionally. lost gold medal. Her silver medal brought
When she wanted to take up boxing, the Indians a joy that was no less than winning
inevitable comment that came was, “You a gold medal. In India, children are taught
are a woman. Boxing isn’t for you.” When from an early age to compete and be at
she proved that stereotype wrong, she was the top of their class in academics, sports,
told that marriage and children would extracurriculars, etc. There is tremendous
be the end of her career. She once again pressure to be number one and nothing less
proved that wrong. She is 38, married and than number one is celebrated. Mirabai’s
a mother of four, and continues to fight victory and sheer joy as she wore that silver
with the same tenacity as she did when medal will live in the hearts and minds of
she started out. Mary Kom is not only a Indians for years to come. Just when one
sporting icon but also an icon for women thought that Mirabai’s victory could not be
who choose to excel in fields that are any more endearing, she said that the thing
predominantly male-dominated. She is the she wanted to do most after her Olympic
story of every Indian woman who chose victory, was eat pizza. We connect most
to fight for her dreams despite societal with one another when we share our hopes,
conditioning of gender roles and continued dreams, vulnerabilities and the simple
to pursue that dream after marriage and joys of life. It also makes one realise that
children. Most Indian women are forced to our sporting superstars are just as human
choose between their career and marriage. as you and me but what sets them apart is
Mary Kom is proof that it does not have to their discipline, sacrifice and unwavering
be an either-or situation and a woman can focus on their goal.
excel at it all.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #26 | AUGUST 2021 9
