For Mary Kom, mother's touch before the punches

It was toys first for 'Super Mom' MC Mary Kom before she toyed with her opponent in the Asian Games final at Incheon.

It was toys first for 'Super Mom' MC Mary Kom before she toyed with her opponent in the Asian Games final at Incheon.

On the eve of her gold medal bout against Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova, the gloves were off, as she was busy playing the doting mother. Her seven-year-old twin sons, Khupneivar and Rechungvar, had both demanded a toy turtle and Spiderman costume.

"I was in touch with them on phone every day, and they told me what they wanted. I didn't want to forget it and managed to buy everything they wanted before the final, especially the toy turtles," a beaming Mary told HT at a felicitation function for the Asiad medallists organised by Samsung. She was chosen the Most Valuable Player of the India contingent.

"They repeatedly asked for it, but I bought two different coloured turtles," the mother of three explained. Unlike some parents of twins, Mary is particular not to buy identical dresses or presents for her elder sons. The five-time world champion says it prevents fighting. "I did buy identical stuff once but their interest vanished after a few days. Since then, I have never bought the same things for both."

"Prince is too young, but the twins understand what I do as I have been away from them for so long. They watch me fight on TV. I was told when my gold medal bout was on, they were shouting in front of the TV, 'come on mama, one more'."

Like all mothers, she too worries about the studies of her elder sons. "I have been in camps for a few years. My niece looks after their studies. She is a great help. But I want to be around them. I will quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympics. After that I will focus solely on my family and academy."