Manipur to accord mega reception to Mary Kom

The Manipur government will accord a grand reception to Asian Games gold medallist boxer M.C. Mary Kom on her return to her home state, an official said here Thursday.

Mary Kom, 31, defeated Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova in the flyweight (48-51 kg) category to win gold Wednesday, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

As the news spread, people from all sections of the society reached her home at Meitei Langol, near Games Village in Imphal West, with bouquets and sweets.

"The state government would accord a magnificent reception to Mary Kom on her return to Manipur," said Mairembam Prithviraj Singh, parliamentary secretary in-charge of youth affairs and sports and tourism.

"Mary Kom is a daughter of Manipur and all Indians are proud for her," Singh told IANS.

"After talking with the chief minister, we will plan the reception," Singh added.

He said that after Mary Kom won a bronze in the London Olympics in August 2012, the Manipur government had given her a cash reward of Rs.75 lakh and promoted her to the post of superintendent of police (sports).

The state government had also allotted her two acres of land at Meitei Langol where she currently resides.

After her London Olympic success, the Assam government rewarded her Rs.20 lakh, Arunachal Pradesh government Rs.10 lakh, North Eastern Council Rs.40 lakh and the union ministry of tribal affairs rewarded her with Rs.10 lakh.

After her success in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon in South Korea, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has congratulated the five-time world champion.

"Her gold clinching performance has assumed more importance because she has become the first ever Indian woman boxer to have won a gold medal at the Asian Games," Gogoi said in a statement.