23. Mary Kom
Nicknamed ‘Magnificent Mary’, this fighter from Manipur became the first Indian woman boxer to achieve a Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games 2018 and the Asian Games in 2014 held at Incheon, South Korea. In a felicitation ceremony that was held at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex of Imphal, Mary Kom was titled as “Meethoi Leima”, meaning an exceptional lady by the Government of Manipur. The biopic on Mary Kom grossed a whopping Rs.104 crores worldwide within one month of its release. Arjuna Award came her way for boxing in 2003, followed by Padma Bhushan for sports in 2013. She is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal. Moreover, Mary took many initiatives to save animals by becoming an animal rights activist. She is also a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in India. Her determination and will power are an inspiration for each one of us.
