Mary Kom, the legendary boxer and India's first Olympic medallist in women's boxing was honoured with the Global Indian Icon of the Year award at the UK-India Awards 2023 in Windsor, England. The former Rajya Sabha member received the award from Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami at a gala ceremony on Thursday night.
She thanked the organizers for the recognition and shared her 20-year journey of hard work and sacrifice for her country and her family. "I have been fighting for 20 years, putting in so much effort, hard work in my life, in boxing, it means a lot... making sacrifices for my country, for my family. I really thank you from the bottom of my heart for this recognition," the 40-year-old said.
Mary Kom, who hails from Manipur, is a six-time world champion and a bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics. Kom is also a recipient of the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awards and is currently preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The UK-India Awards, organized by India Global Forum (IGF) as part of UK-India Week, celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organizations that have contributed to strengthening the bilateral ties between the two countries. The awards, now in their fifth year, span several categories, such as business, professional services, government, culture, and social impact.
Among the other winners was filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to cinema across both nations; the Nehru Centre in London, which won the award for Significant Contribution to UK-India Relations.