How India's boxing legend Mary Kom inspired Pakistan's 1st female CWG medallist
Mark Kom's influence in boxing has inspired many around the globe and now a fan from Pakistan stands on the podium at the Commonwealth Games in boxing. Pakistan's Fatima Zahra talks about how Kom inspired her to a bronze medal this year in Glasgow.
For generations of Indian boxers, MC Mary Kom has been more than a champion. She has been proof that a young girl with a dream can fight her way past every barrier standing in her path. Her story, however, has travelled much farther than India.
Across the border in Pakistan, a 10-year-old Fatima Zahra watched the 2014 Bollywood film Mary Kom and found in the Indian icon a sporting hero she could call her own. There were few Pakistani women boxers for Fatima to look up to in those early years. Mary Kom became her inspiration instead.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: FULL COVERAGE
More than the six world titles, Olympic bronze and gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, it was Mary Kom's journey that stayed with her.
"I am inspired by India's Mary Kom," Fatima told PTI after securing her bronze medal.
Born into a poor farming family in rural Manipur, Mary Kom had to negotiate financial hardship, social opposition, and a lack of resources before she could establish herself among boxing's greats. Her path to the top was built on defiance, secretly pursuing the sport in her younger days, juggling training with work on the fields, and refusing to let circumstances dictate her future.
For Fatima, that story felt familiar.
Growing up in Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province, she too faced resistance when she chose boxing. What began as opposition at home slowly changed as her family came to accept and support her ambitions.
On Friday, Fatima completed a journey that Mary Kom had unknowingly helped set in motion. The 22-year-old won bronze in the women's 60kg category at the Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Pakistani woman boxer to stand on the Games podium. And it was Kom's biopic that inspired her to take up the sport.
"I used to watch the film made on her life. When I started boxing I used to watch that movie and train. I have a lot of respect for her and inshallah one day I will become like her. I hope I can meet her," said Fatima.
And much like Kom, Fatima didn't get a lot of support from her family early on.
"My background is not that strong. My basic coach taught me everything," she said.
"My family was against boxing. They would not let me go for training but I fought with them and continued training."
However, now Fatima says that her family remains more tense than her when she enters the boxing ring.
"And now they are more tense than me for my fight and competition," she said with a smile.
The medal is historic for Pakistan. But Fatima hopes its impact will stretch well beyond the record books.
She wants more Pakistani girls to see sport as an option, to question the stereotypes that keep them tied to traditional household roles and to believe that stepping into a boxing ring — or any sporting arena — is a choice they can make for themselves.
"I was also just another girl. I joined boxing, trained and worked hard. I want other girls who are told to work at home to come out like me.
"I have struggled and worked so hard. I want others to get boosted by my performance and get inspired."
Mary Kom once became that example for a young girl growing up across the border.
Now, Fatima Zahra hopes to become one for the next generation.
For generations of Indian boxers, MC Mary Kom has been more than a champion. She has been proof that a young girl with a dream can fight her way past every barrier standing in her path. Her story, however, has travelled much farther than India.
Across the border in Pakistan, a 10-year-old Fatima Zahra watched the 2014 Bollywood film Mary Kom and found in the Indian icon a sporting hero she could call her own. There were few Pakistani women boxers for Fatima to look up to in those early years. Mary Kom became her inspiration instead.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: FULL COVERAGE
More than the six world titles, Olympic bronze and gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, it was Mary Kom's journey that stayed with her.
"I am inspired by India's Mary Kom," Fatima told PTI after securing her bronze medal.
Born into a poor farming family in rural Manipur, Mary Kom had to negotiate financial hardship, social opposition, and a lack of resources before she could establish herself among boxing's greats. Her path to the top was built on defiance, secretly pursuing the sport in her younger days, juggling training with work on the fields, and refusing to let circumstances dictate her future.
For Fatima, that story felt familiar.
Growing up in Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province, she too faced resistance when she chose boxing. What began as opposition at home slowly changed as her family came to accept and support her ambitions.
On Friday, Fatima completed a journey that Mary Kom had unknowingly helped set in motion. The 22-year-old won bronze in the women's 60kg category at the Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Pakistani woman boxer to stand on the Games podium. And it was Kom's biopic that inspired her to take up the sport.
"I used to watch the film made on her life. When I started boxing I used to watch that movie and train. I have a lot of respect for her and inshallah one day I will become like her. I hope I can meet her," said Fatima.
And much like Kom, Fatima didn't get a lot of support from her family early on.
"My background is not that strong. My basic coach taught me everything," she said.
"My family was against boxing. They would not let me go for training but I fought with them and continued training."
However, now Fatima says that her family remains more tense than her when she enters the boxing ring.
"And now they are more tense than me for my fight and competition," she said with a smile.
The medal is historic for Pakistan. But Fatima hopes its impact will stretch well beyond the record books.
She wants more Pakistani girls to see sport as an option, to question the stereotypes that keep them tied to traditional household roles and to believe that stepping into a boxing ring — or any sporting arena — is a choice they can make for themselves.
"I was also just another girl. I joined boxing, trained and worked hard. I want other girls who are told to work at home to come out like me.
"I have struggled and worked so hard. I want others to get boosted by my performance and get inspired."
Mary Kom once became that example for a young girl growing up across the border.
Now, Fatima Zahra hopes to become one for the next generation.
For generations of Indian boxers, MC Mary Kom has been more than a champion. She has been proof that a young girl with a dream can fight her way past every barrier standing in her path. Her story, however, has travelled much farther than India.
Across the border in Pakistan, a 10-year-old Fatima Zahra watched the 2014 Bollywood film Mary Kom and found in the Indian icon a sporting hero she could call her own. There were few Pakistani women boxers for Fatima to look up to in those early years. Mary Kom became her inspiration instead.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026: FULL COVERAGE
More than the six world titles, Olympic bronze and gold medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, it was Mary Kom's journey that stayed with her.
"I am inspired by India's Mary Kom," Fatima told PTI after securing her bronze medal.
Born into a poor farming family in rural Manipur, Mary Kom had to negotiate financial hardship, social opposition, and a lack of resources before she could establish herself among boxing's greats. Her path to the top was built on defiance, secretly pursuing the sport in her younger days, juggling training with work on the fields, and refusing to let circumstances dictate her future.
For Fatima, that story felt familiar.
Growing up in Sargodha in Pakistan's Punjab province, she too faced resistance when she chose boxing. What began as opposition at home slowly changed as her family came to accept and support her ambitions.
On Friday, Fatima completed a journey that Mary Kom had unknowingly helped set in motion. The 22-year-old won bronze in the women's 60kg category at the Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Pakistani woman boxer to stand on the Games podium. And it was Kom's biopic that inspired her to take up the sport.
"I used to watch the film made on her life. When I started boxing I used to watch that movie and train. I have a lot of respect for her and inshallah one day I will become like her. I hope I can meet her," said Fatima.
And much like Kom, Fatima didn't get a lot of support from her family early on.
"My background is not that strong. My basic coach taught me everything," she said.
"My family was against boxing. They would not let me go for training but I fought with them and continued training."
However, now Fatima says that her family remains more tense than her when she enters the boxing ring.
"And now they are more tense than me for my fight and competition," she said with a smile.
The medal is historic for Pakistan. But Fatima hopes its impact will stretch well beyond the record books.
She wants more Pakistani girls to see sport as an option, to question the stereotypes that keep them tied to traditional household roles and to believe that stepping into a boxing ring — or any sporting arena — is a choice they can make for themselves.
"I was also just another girl. I joined boxing, trained and worked hard. I want other girls who are told to work at home to come out like me.
"I have struggled and worked so hard. I want others to get boosted by my performance and get inspired."
Mary Kom once became that example for a young girl growing up across the border.
Now, Fatima Zahra hopes to become one for the next generation.
