Marriage is no stumbling block: Mary Kom

Marriage is not a hindrance to achieve success at any level of competition provided one has a supportive family, feel pugilists of international repute.

"If you have a will power and a supportive family, I do not think marriage is a stumbling block in achieving success at any level of competition," four-time world champion boxer M C Mary Kom said. Her thoughts were echoed by international women boxers L Sarita Devi, Laxmi Paharia and Aruna Mishra.

The boxers are in Jamshedpur to participate in the ongoing 110th senior women's national boxing championship at J R D Tata Sports complex. Mary Kom will compete in the 46-kg category.

Mary Kom said "I am married with two children, but my marriage has never caused any problem as far as my performance go. I have never had any issues, whether at domestic or the international level."

In fact, she described her 2008 World championship victory in China after her marriage as her best performance so far, though it was a comeback performance.

She thanked her supportive family in general and her husband in particular for backing her.

Mary Kom, 27, said, "Will power and hard-work was the most needed ingredients for achieving success before or after marriage."

Mary Kom, who has a dream to win a gold medal for the country in the 2012 London Olympic Games, was delighted at the inclusion of women's boxing at the Olympics for the first time.

Mary Kom's state-cum-team-mate L Sarita Devi (27), a nine time national champion in the 57-kg category, expressed a similar opinion when asked to compare between her pre and post-marriage performances.

Sarita Devi, who has a child, said she never felt that her marriage had any adverse impact in the ring, whether at home or abroad.

An Arjuna awardee Sarita Devi, admitted that the decision of the husband and family plays a vital role as far as continuing in the sport was concerned.