“What’s the point of all I achieved?” Those raw words from MC Mary Kom – a six-time world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist – cut deep. The 43-year-old boxing legend opened up to PTI in a recent interview and spoke about one of the darkest chapters of her life: A painful divorce from husband Onler Kom, near-bankruptcy, stolen properties, and relentless social media slander. Here’s what she revealed:From Olympic glory to personal lossMary Kom was married to Onler Kom for over 20 years, and so the news of their divorce a few months ago came as a huge surprise for everyone. Speaking about what really went wrong in her marriage for the first time, she told PTI in an interview that things were fine till she was competing and not managing her finances. “Things were fine till I was competing and had very little involvement in my finances, but when I got injured before the 2022 Commonwealth Games, I realised I was living a lie.“But a career-ending injury before the 2022 Commonwealth Games changed everything. “I was bedridden for several months, and needed a walker after that. It was then that I realised that the man I had trusted was not what I believed him to be. I did not want it to be a spectacle for the world, so I sought a divorce after several attempts to resolve it between us,” she shared.The betrayal stung deepest financially. “He transferred my properties to his name, took crores in loans, mortgaged my land.” Locals in Churachandpur seized her hard-earned property when debts went unpaid.Mary Kom on being made the villain in her marriage
Mary stayed silent for two years after her divorce, hoping privacy would heal her wounds. But people were unkind and judgmental towards her on social media. Recalling the painful period, Mary Kom further said, “I informed my family and his family that it cannot continue, and they understood. I was hoping that it would stay private, but then a concerted attempt has been made to slander me for the last one year. I thought I would not respond, but then my silence was being misread and the attacks kept increasing.“…there are news reports that call me the greedy one, who forced him to contest elections (2022 in Manipur). I did not do any of it. Things which were only discussed between me and him are being fed to tabloids to paint me as the villain and my character is being questioned. I had to react at some point,” she added.Sharing her pain after the divorce, Mary said that all she now wants to simply focus on raising her kids and taking care of her elderly parents.“What is the point of my achievements? Kya fayda, I have been left broken but I can’t even afford to grieve. Because I have four kids to take care of, parents who are dependent on me… I haven’t and don’t wish to take any police action but just leave me alone, stop slandering me,” she said.What Onler has to say about Mary’s allegations against him
Onler denies wrongdoing, reports PTI, “Not involved in anything wrong,” he is supposed to have said.When motherhood became Mary’s fightFor the unversed, Mary Kom has four children with her ex-husband Onler: three sons, including twins, and a daughter. And in such difficult times, her children are what inspire her to keep going. “Can you stay down with children watching?,” she asks. Mary shared that she is now rebuilding her life through endorsements, IOA appearances, and heading the Athletes Commission. “God gives strength. This is one long boxing bout,” she added.Why Mary Kom’s story resonates with manyIndian sports icon betrayed isn’t just tabloid fodder. It’s every woman rebuilding after trust shatters. Mary Kom-Onler divorce gains people’s attention because her vulnerability humanises the legend.What moves you most about Mary’s fight? Share in the comment section below.
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