Mary Kom

“I have been juggling so many roles. I am a mother, too. I have three sons to take care of. I don't even know how I manage to pull it off sometimes.”

“Looking back now, I realise that belonging to the family of a labourer actually helped to prepare my body for boxing. There were many times when my family didn't have enough food or warm clothing to go around. All this made me physically, as well as emotionally, tough.”

“I learned my weaknesses at the Asian Games and other competitions where I lost. My guard was down.”

“I never told my parents that I was doing boxing. They only came to know after I became state champion and my name and picture came in the newspaper.”

“If you are good at something, and especially, if people who matter tell you that you are good enough, you must follow that sport.”

“Watching boxer Dingko Singh's performance at the Asian Games, Bangkok, where he won gold, was the defining moment. I was 15 and enjoyed sports more than anything else. Singh's performance changed my life and inspired me to follow boxing.”

“I started athletics in 1999, throwing discus and shot put. I didn't tell my family when I started boxing.”

“I look like I'm Chinese or Thai or Japanese - very different.”

“When I started boxing, people laughed at me and said, 'What can women do in boxing?' I took it as a challenge. If men can do it, why can't women? And I became a world champion before my marriage.”

“I took up boxing out of sheer interest and to help my parents financially.”

“The incentive of a medal at the biggest sporting arena in the world is what drives me. Before I hang my gloves, I want to win the Olympic medal, and my performance at London will decide my future in the sport.”

“My normal weight category is 48 kg. So for the 51 kg. category, I had to depend on lots of food and drinks before going in for the weigh-in. But that does not make my strength, my muscles. It's a little bit different. If there's a 48 kg. category, it's a perfect fit for me.”

“I have a very fit body and have never faced any major injury problems. So yes, the secret to my success is my fit body.”

“Youngsters taking up boxing will get a lot of encouragement to do something for the country, seeing my laurels.”

“Every medal I have won is a story of a difficult struggle.”

“In the 46-48 kg. category, I know every boxer, and I defeat them whenever I fight them.”

“At school, my favourite subject was social studies.”

“I'm grateful to the state and central government for all their support for my academy.”

“It's a punishment game... only two boxers get in the ring. So when we get in the ring and we're not angry, then you're not a real boxer.”

“In Manipur, mostly the top player's family background is very poor. I also come from a poor family, so we have to do more hard work to get money and a better life.”