Mary Kom gets life’s first tattoo, targeting Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Guwahati: Indian boxer from Manipur MC Mary Kom is submerged in the Olympic spirit. While the 36-year-old pugilist is rigorously training to stay at the top of her game, she got a minimal yet meaningful tattoo of the five Olympic rings on Sunday.

While sharing a picture with the Olympic boxer, renowned tattoo artiste Mo Naga said, “Five years ago, Mary had expressed her desire to get tattooed to me. It came true yesterday. Sometimes the tattoo decides for us and this was one such experience.”

The Olympic rings express the activity of the Olympic movement and represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

Mary Kom is the only woman to become World Amateur Boxing champion for a record six times, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the seven world championships. Her accomplishments are too many to be named.

Mo Naga, who runs Headhunters’ Inc in New Delhi, said that he was honoured to get an opportunity to ink the world champion. “Traditionally, tattoos are done for protection and strength. It not only marks one’s identity but also symbolises transformation. May her tattoos inspire her and bring a greater determinations & transformations!”

Wishing Mary Kom all the best, Mo Naga said, “May you achieve your Olympic dream Mary! The whole country is with you!”

Also Read: Tokyo 2020: Why Mary Kom opted for 51kg instead of favourite 48kg

Meanwhile, at the recently-concluded India Open International Boxing Tournament held in Guwahati, Assam in May, Mary Kom, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, made a debut in the 51 kg category, after opting out of the Asian Championships in April in order to prepare for the World Championships as the event will serve as a good preparatory ground for Olympic qualification.

Also Read: Tokyo 2020: Why Mary Kom opted for 51kg instead of favourite 48kg

Moranngam Khaling aka Mo Naga hails from the northeastern state of Manipur. He trained as a fashion designer at the prestigious National Institute of Fashion Technology in Hyderabad where he started tattooing 15 years ago. He runs the tattoo parlour Headhunters’ Ink in New Delhi.

Also Read: Manipur: Little footballers get a big leg-up at Ukhrul FC Baby Cup