UK: BOXING: British boxer Nicola Adams is eyeing Olympic gold as women's boxing is included in the Olympic Games for the first time in London

Record ID: 796353

  • Title: UK: BOXING: British boxer Nicola Adams is eyeing Olympic gold as women's boxing is included in the Olympic Games for the first time in London
  • Date: 25th July 2012
  • Summary: LONDON, UK (JULY 25, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF PRESS CONFERENCE BOXERS NICOLA ADAMS AND TOM STALKER PRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) NICOLA ADAMS SAYING: "The qualifying was really tough because of the weight classes as well. You had world champions and European champions coming in from different weights so every time you were boxing, you were boxing a good number one boxer.
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA8HZW2T2YICYNLDTF0XEVTUM9M
  • Story Text: British boxer Nicola Adams said on Wednesday (July 25) that she deserved the chance to compete for gold as women's boxing is included in the Olympic Games for the first time in London.
    Speaking at a news conference the 29-year-old flyweight said that coming through a tough qualifying campaign would help her in the Games.
    "The qualifying was really tough because of the weight classes as well. You had world champions and European champions coming in from different weights so every time you were boxing you were boxing a good number one boxer, she said.
    "To qualify I had to beat a five-time world champion, Mary Kom, so there were no sly ways around it, to qualify you had to beat the best. It proves to me that I earned my spot to be there, I deserve to be competing at this Olympics going through this qualifying process."
    Adams and the other women boxers have been training alongside their male counterparts who have been impressed with their dedication.
    "I think the spotlight should be on the women because the women can fight and I believe if you can fight and win medals for the country, it should be on them and the three girls we've got qualified believe you me they can go to the Olympics and all win medals," said Team GB boxing captain Tom Stalker, who is competing in light welterweight and won bronze at the World Amateur Championships in 2011.
    "I think me and Luke (Campbell), I don't think there's a boxer out of the ten that can't win a medal but it does come down a lot to the luck of the draw and you do need a little bit of luck, but I think this is our greatest team, and that's from the bottom of my heart that," he added.
    Luke Campbell, the bantamweight boxer, agreed with his team mate.
    "We have the women train with us every week, we see how hard they train and they deserve to be here as much as we do, we all train together. Tom's right, I think this is a brilliant team, we've got to thank the coaches and the set-up for that, and it's all about performing on the day," Campbell said.
    Britain won three medals at the last Games in Beijing, including a gold by middleweight James DeGale. Adams, while hoping to also win a medal, said that she is just happy so far to be part of the team.
    "I'm happy just being there representing my country and that's all I've ever wanted to do and I'm thankfully here doing it now, it's great for me," said Adams.
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