Key Points
- Divorce Finalized: Mary Kom and Karung Onkholer (Onler) Kom officially divorced by mutual consent under Kom customary law on December 20, 2023.
- No Affair: Mary Kom categorically denies all rumours linking her to Hitesh Choudhary or any other individual, warning of legal action against further speculation.
- Difficult Years: The boxing icon describes the last two years as personally challenging and appeals for privacy and space.
- Family Separation: Mary Kom now lives in Faridabad with her four children, while Onler resides in Delhi; the split reportedly intensified after Onler’s 2022 election loss and financial setbacks.
- Historic Achievements: Mary Kom is India’s most decorated female boxer, with six World Championship golds and an Olympic bronze medal.
New Delhi: India’s legendary boxer and Olympic medallist Mary Kom has officially confirmed her divorce from husband Karung Onkholer (Onler) Kom, ending 18 years of marriage. In a detailed legal statement released on April 30, 2025, Mary Kom clarified that the couple’s divorce was finalized by mutual consent under Kom customary law on December 20, 2023, with both families and community elders present as witnesses.
Timeline and Background
Mary Kom and Onler married in 2005 after a widely admired love story that began in Delhi in 2000. The couple has three sons and an adopted daughter. Their relationship, once celebrated as a model of support and partnership, reportedly began to unravel after Onler’s unsuccessful bid in the 2022 Manipur Assembly elections, which led to significant financial strain and personal differences. Mary moved to Faridabad with their children, while Onler stayed in Delhi with his family.
Addressing Rumours and Media Speculation
The announcement comes amid persistent rumours and social media speculation linking Mary Kom to Hitesh Choudhary, chairman of the Mary Kom Boxing Foundation, and even to another boxer’s husband. Mary Kom has categorically denied all such claims, stressing that her relationship with Hitesh Choudhary is strictly professional. Her legal notice warns that any further unfounded speculation or defamatory reporting will prompt civil and criminal legal action.
“The rumours regarding my client’s relationship involvement with Mr. Hitesh Choudhary or being in a relationship with another boxer’s husband, are categorically denied and should not be propagated by any media platform,” the statement reads.
Appeal for Privacy
Mary Kom’s legal team emphasized that she has endured a deeply challenging period over the past two years and now seeks privacy and respect from the public and media. She has requested that friends, fans, and media outlets refrain from further speculation or intrusion into her personal life, stating that the matter is closed and she wishes to move forward.
“During this difficult hour, my client requests her friends, fans, and well-wishers to kindly give her the space and privacy she needs to navigate this difficult time. This notice serves as a formal request for all media entities, in all forms, to refrain from making baseless speculations about my client,” the legal notice adds.
A Champion’s Legacy
Despite personal challenges, Mary Kom remains India’s most successful female boxer, with six World Championship gold medals and a historic Olympic bronze at the 2012 London Games. Her journey from a small village in Manipur to global sporting stardom has inspired millions, and her life story was immortalized in a Bollywood biopic starring Priyanka Chopra.
Mary Kom has officially ended her marriage with Onler after 18 years, confirming the divorce was finalized last December. She has firmly denied all affair rumours, issued a legal warning against further speculation, and appealed for privacy as she focuses on her family and her future.
