Junior Mary Kom : Roshni Subba

Nirmal Mangar, TT: Young boxer Roshni Subba’s day was made, and she has Mary Kom to thank for it. The 19-year-old is playing a young Mary Kom in an advertisement. But that’s not all. 

On Wednesday morning, Roshni met her idol at Rumtek Senior Secondary School in East Sikkim where world champion boxer Mary, too, had come for the shoot. Roshni, a Class XI girl in a Gangtok school, could not hide her excitement. 

“It was like my dream has come true,” she said. “She is my idol in boxing. She is so nice and down to earth. She interacted with us so well and also demonstrated some boxing techniques. Playing her on television is a lifetime thing for me,” said the student of West Point Senior Secondary School. 

Mary had encouraging words for the kids, many training in boxing, who came to her at the Rumtek school (picture above). The five-time world champion and Olympic boxing bronze medallist Mary Kom said she was happy to see that several aspiring women boxers were training in Sikkim. 

“I am happy to see that there are so many women boxers in Sikkim. There are many challenges, especially for women, but the strongest are those who face them and move forward. I am the mother of three children but I never let my passion for boxing die,” Mary said. More than 20 girls are affiliated to the Sikkim Boxing Association and some of them acted in the ad film that features the 30-year-old star. 

Questions on the upcoming film on her life came up. Mary said she was happy that the “talented” Priyanka Chopra was playing her in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film. “Priyanka Chopra had visited my home last year and we spent some good time,” Mary said (file picture of Priyanka’s visit at bottom left). 

“She is a very talented actor and I am sure she will justify the role. I also gave her some boxing tips and will teach more if I meet her in the coming days,” Mary said. (pictures by Prabin Khaling)