Indian sporting icons Mary Kom and Sakshi Malik were honoured with the Ace of Aces award at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2026 in Mumbai on Friday, a tribute to two athletes whose journeys have reshaped the possibilities for women in Indian sport.
Few athletes in the country have embodied resilience and longevity quite like Mary Kom. Across two decades, the boxer from Manipur built one of the most remarkable careers in the history of the sport, becoming the first woman to win six world titles at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
Her decorated career includes a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, five Asian Championship titles and a historic gold at the 2014 Asian Games, the first by an Indian woman boxer.
Mary Kom received the award from M. M. Somaya, Sportstar Aces Awards jury member, and Diptakirti Chaudhuri (Chief Marketing Officer, CasaGrand). Accepting the honour, she reflected on the final chapter of her competitive career and the challenges that followed.
“I would like to thank the jury members and Sportstar for giving me this award. It has been almost three years since I last competed in any competition because of the age limit in women’s boxing. I wanted to continue for as long as I could, but unfortunately, the age restriction meant I could not compete during this period,” Mary said after receiving her award.
“Having said that, being a mother is a bigger challenge than being a boxer. But with patience and willpower, you can accomplish anything. We need your support, not just for me but for everyone who is contributing to sports in our country.”
If Mary’s story is one of sustained excellence, Sakshi’s is etched in the memory of Indian sport for one unforgettable night in Rio.
At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Sakshi became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal, claiming bronze in women’s freestyle wrestling. Her campaign was defined by dramatic comebacks, including victories over Sweden’s Johanna Mattsson, Mongolia’s Purevdorjiin Orkhon and Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova in the bronze-medal bout.
Sakshi Malik receiving the award from Jhulan Goswami, former Indian women’s team captain and Saumitra Srivastava, Director-Marketing, IOCL.
| Photo Credit:
VIJAY SONEJI
That medal, secured in the dying seconds of the contest, ended India’s anxious wait for a podium finish at the Games and instantly became one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s Olympic history. She received the award from former Indian women’s team captain Jhulan Goswami and Saumitra Srivastava, Director, Marketing at IOCL.
Looking back on that defining match, Sakshi recalled the emotions of the final moments.
“Thanks to all the jury members and the organisers for honouring me with this award. When an athlete receives an award, it becomes a very memorable moment,” Sakshi said after receiving the award.
“That match (bronze-medal match) is something I will never forget. In the last seven or eight seconds, I was trailing, and that final move earned me the medal. I couldn’t believe it. That moment can’t really be captured in words. I was excited, very happy, and in tears at the same time. It was a mix of emotions. That medal was very special.
“(On how matters are settled at home, since her husband is also a wrestler) Our sport is a combat sport. Once we get off the mat, we are so tired that there is no energy left to fight at home,” she said with a laugh.
Malik also reflected on how dramatically the ecosystem around Indian wrestling has changed since she first stepped onto the mat.
“When we started wrestling, there were hardly any facilities, but even then, we trained very hard. If someone from a middle-class family like mine can do it, then today’s athletes certainly can. Now, there are academies everywhere, and they offer much better facilities. You can train in all weather conditions.
Just focus on your target. If you want to reach the Olympics and win a medal, you can do it. Stay focused and keep working hard.”
Published – March 14, 2026 12:29 am IST
