For MC Mary Kom, London Olympics is a dream realised twice over as the five-time world champion is not just excited about being the only Indian woman boxer at the big event but is also overjoyed about having her mother in the stands to watch her live for the first time.
Women's boxing will make its Olympic debut in London and fittingly, it is the 29-year-old Mary Kom (51kg) who would be shouldering the Indian hopes for a medal.
The diminutive Manipuri, who herself has two kids, said having her own mother, Mangte Akham Kom, in London is nothing short of a dream coming true.
Interestingly, Akham Kom would be stepping outside the country for the first time in her life and her London trip is being sponsored by corporate giant Procter and Gamble as part of its "Thank you, Mom" campaign.
"Olympics would be the biggest event of my career and I am so excited that my mom would see me live in action for the first time at such a big stage. I can't tell how happy I am right now," Mary Kom, who will leave for London on Friday told PTI from Pune where she is currently training.
"To have her in the stands some day was one of my ambitions and this dream would be real soon."
{{/usCountry}}"To have her in the stands some day was one of my ambitions and this dream would be real soon."
{{/usCountry}}Mary Kom described Akham as an immense source of strength but conceded that she was not quite impressed with her choice of career at first.
"As any other mother, she was worried about my well-being, she didn't want me to get hurt. So, she didn't like it when I first started boxing.
"But she never stopped me because of her concerns. She supported my decision even though she did not agree with it," recalled Mary Kom.