Imphal: At a remote, hillside academy in the far-flung fringes of the country, one of India's best shots at an Olympic gold medal takes a breather from her own training to trade punches with some students.
Mother-of-two Mary Kom, otherwise known here as 'Magnificent Mary,' is under all kinds of pressure while aiming, as she is, at winning one of the first Olympic medals ever awarded in women's boxing.
A five-time world champion, she has spent time in recent weeks in the non-profit academy she established to work with promising young boxers.
The scene is typical. A dozen young boxers ignore persistent drizzle to work out with the woman they call Madame Mary. They take instructions even as she stretches and loosens her limbs to prepare herself for the session....
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12:15 PM, Jun 21, 2012
