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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2014)
October 6, 2014 ASIA / PACIFIC THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3 Mary Kom draws crowds even in faraway venues By C. Rajshekhar Rao AP Sports Writer NCHEON, South Korea — India’s star woman boxer, M.C. Mary Kom, was not surprised at the crowd support for her at the Asian Games. The sprightly 31-year-old acknowledges cheers from the stands and does not even mind being pushed around as her fans jostle with each other to get a photo with her. The five-time world champion says she is used to seeing people flock to venues to watch her and understands that her stature has increased several-fold after a Hindi commercial movie was made about her last month. “I expected people to come and watch me compete,” Mary Kom said without any hint of conceit. “I’ve been fortunate to have a fan following and understand that women in particular idolize me.” A huge group of Indian expatriates visit her at the Seonhak Gymnasium in what is a clear sign of her popularity, which she gained over the years after her first few world titles were largely ignored in India. The fact that she is the mother of three only enhances her persona in a country where women are making fast progress in different walks of life and look up to her for inspiration. “The movie has contributed to my popularity. But I’m still the same. I don’t want celebrity status. I’ve got the love and support of people, but I’d like to have my personal freedom rather than being thronged by a crowd at the market,” Mary Kom said. The film about Mary Kom shows her early struggle at a remote village in a hilly part of the northeastern state of Manipur and the way she made a comeback after giving birth to twin sons, who are now seven. Mary Kom had returned after a two-year hiatus to clinch her fourth world title at I UNEXPECTED ERUPTION. A Nagoya City firefighter uses a gas analyzer to check toxic volcanic fumes next to a Buddha statue near the summit of Mount Ontake in central Japan. Some survivors of the eruption made a split-second decision to hide behind big rocks or escaped into lodges that dot the mountain’s slopes. Out- doors, other hikers fell — hit by rocks or possibly suffocated by gasses — and were quickly buried in ash. At least 47 people were killed in last month’s surprise eruption. (AP Photo/Nagoya City Fire Department) Luck, instinct determined fates of volcano hikers By Mari Yamaguchi The Associated Press OKYO — Huge boulders falling from the sky. Billowing gray smoke that cast total darkness over the mountain. Volcanic ash piling on the ground and fumes filling the air. Some survivors of the eruption of Mount Ontake made a split-second decision to hide behind big rocks or escaped into lodges that dot the mountain’s slopes. Outdoors, other hikers fell — hit by rocks or possibly suffocated by gasses — and were quickly buried in ash. At least 47 people were killed in last month’s surprise eruption. T For survivors such as mountain guide Sayuri Ogawa, it was a near-death experience. The experience she recalled and the accounts of others suggest luck and instinct made the difference between life and death for the hikers who were in harm’s way. Despite its impressive plume, the erup- tion was not a major one with lava flow. Yet, it proved deadly, because so many people were at the summit on a perfect day to enjoy hiking and the autumn leaves. The eruption caught hikers by surprise. Seismologists had detected signs of in- creased seismic activity at Mount Ontake, one of Japan’s 110 active volcanoes, but Continued on page 13 Summer Run BELOVED BOXER. Indian boxer M.C. Mary Kom smiles during a press conference in New Delhi, India, in this July 22, 2012 file photo. India’s star woman boxer was not surprised at the crowd support for her at the Asian Games. The sprightly 31-year-old acknowledges cheers from the stands and does not even mind being pushed around as her fans jostle with each other to get a photo with her. (AP Photo/ Saurabh Das, File) Ningbo City in China in 2008 and was given the sobriquet of “Magnificent Mary” by world body AIBA. She followed that with another world title. But the return after giving birth to twins has not been the only comeback for Mary Kom. After winning a bronze at the London Olympics, Mary Kom gave birth to her third son, now 15 months, and made another comeback to international boxing. However, it was not easy this time around. Another boxer, Pinki Jangra, was selected for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after a selection bout which Mary Kom considers a farce. “It was only politics that kept me out. But I’m not the one to give up,” said Mary Kom, who won a selection bout again to earn a seat on the flight to Incheon. “Making a comeback after giving birth to my third child was not easy. It was difficult to get 100 percent fit,” Mary Kom conceded. “But I’m confident in international competitions because of the experience Continued on page 7 Retirement Apartments • Studio & One-Bedroom Apartments • Affordable Rent with No Costly Buy-Ins or Application Fees • Federal Rent Subsidies Available • Ideal Urban location near shopping, bus lines, restaurants, and more! 7810 SE Foster Road Portland, OR 97206 503 • 774 • 8885 • Enjoy our small community atmosphere that’s relaxed & friendly! YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOUR VOICE The City is investing $20 million in North/Northeast Portland over the next five years to help address the need for affordable housing. We need your input to inform the housing strategy. 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