England will be represented at the Women’s Amateur Boxing World Championships for the first time this November. The team led by Amanda Groarke headed off for Ningbo in China on the 19th November and the tournament will commence on 22nd November until 29th November. 45 nations and 237 competitors will take part in the World Championships. Ningbo City,a seaport with population of 5.6 million is situated in North Eastern Zhejiang Province and has friendship partnerships with several European cities including Nottingham.
This is a momentous time for Women’s Boxing in England and internationally. The Amateur International Boxing Association recently submitted their proposal to include events for women in the Olympic Games to the International Olympic Committee. A decision will be made towards the end of 2009 so this represents an ideal opportunity for contestants to promote women’s boxing.
The four competitors representing England are:
Name: Nicola Adams
Competing Weight:
Age: 25
Club: Bradford Police & College Boxing Academy
Achievements:
Started boxing when she was 12.
Name: Lucy Abel
Team Captain
Competing Weight: 57kg
Age: 29
Club: Royal Navy
Achievements:
Started boxing 3 years ago because she wanted to lose weight and get fit.
Name: Natasha Jonas
Competing Weight:
Age: 24
Club: Rotunda ABC, Liverpool.
Achievements:
Started boxing 3 years ago
Name: Amanda Coulson
Competing Weight:
Age: 25
Club: Hartlepool Catholic ABC, in Hartlepool within the Tyne, Tees and Wear Region
Achievements:
Started boxing in 1997, and had first bout in 99.
Notes for the Editor:
Rules and Events of Competition:
Venue for Competition:
Age Category: Athletes aged between 17 to 34 are eligible to compete. Age is determined using the year of birth of the boxer: (i.e.) boxers born between 1974 till 1991 are eligible to compete
The 13 weight categories:
Pin Weight Kg46
Light Fly Weight Kg48
Fly Weight Kg50
Light Bantam Weight Kg52
Bantam Weight Kg54
Feather Weight Kg57
Light Weight Kg60
Light Welter Weight Kg63
Welter Weight Kg66
Light Middle Weight Kg70
Middle Weight Kg75
Light Heavy Weight Kg80
Heavy Weight Kg86
Competition Format:
3 rounds of 2 minutes, 1 minute rest between rounds
Women’s Boxing in England is seeing a boom in participation rates. In 2005 50 women registered as boxers with the Amateur Boxing Association of England compared with 508 this year. To get involved in boxing or for further information contact Rebecca Black, National Women’s Boxing Development Manager on 07515333044 or rebecca.black@
From: Mike O’Neill mjoneill@
