Mary Kom becomes 'Global Indian Icon of the Year' at UK-India Awards

India's Olympic medalist woman boxer Mary Kom has become the 'Global Indian Icon of the Year' at the annual UK-India Awards in Windsor, south-eastern England. The 40-year-old boxing legend received the award from Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami at a ceremony held on Thursday night.

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While accepting the UK-India Awards, Mary Kom spoke about her 20 years of hard work and dedicated life to boxing. She said, "I have been fighting for 20 years, putting in so much effort, hard work in my life, in boxing, it means a lot... making sacrifice for my country, for my family. I really thank from the bottom of my heart for this recognition."

Meanwhile, Oscar-nominated 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' producer Shekhar Kapur got the 'Lifetime Achievement Award'. He achieved this award for his contribution to cinema in both the countries at the awards organized by the India Global Forum (IGF) as part of UK-India Week. Achievement Award'. In addition, the Nehru Centre, the cultural wing of the High Commission of India (in London), achieved the UK-India Awards for its significant contribution to UK-India relations.

"This is one of the most exciting times to be an Indian in the last many centuries, and India's growing economy has made many others, including many Westerners, think differently about India. But India's culture will actually make many others, including many Westerners, think differently period. And it's our privilege at the Nehru Centre to contribute to the growth and to the popularisation of Indian culture in the West." Author Amish Tripathi, Director of Nehru Centre, said.

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UK-India Awards are for the outstanding contributions of people in business, professional services, government, culture, and social impact and their notable achievements in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Spanning across several categories, the UK-India Awards for Business Promotion Organisation of the Year was conferred upon the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) UK.