“The only one I need to get now is the Olympic gold medal – I’ve done everything else in amateur boxing,” Katie Taylor, 22, told the Irish Times after returning home from the 5th AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Ningbo, China’s Zhejiang Province. “It is my dream to be an Olympic champion so hopefully my dreams can come true in four years time.” The Irish boxer is a hundred percent not the only one who’s stoked by this Olympic dream. The recent Championships wrapped up in Ningbo saw China top the medal tally with 5 golds, 2 silvers and 4 bronzes, with another two boxers finishing at fifth place.

“Women boxing will definitely go Olympic, it’s just a matter of time,” Chang Jianping (常建平), AIBA vice-president and president of the Chinese Boxing Association (CBA, 中国拳击协会) told the Beijing News. Rumor has it that it’s possible the International Olympic Committee will set 4 to 6 golds for grabs in women boxing fours years later in London, if not as many as 11 golds in mens’. “Should the sport goes Olympic, its development here just can not be stopped,” Chang noted. Yes, with this promising women boxing team, the made-in-China Olympic machine would generate more power in the next Olympic Games, and the generous GASC will of course throw more Renminbi into the CBA without thinking twice.

“I am here to achieve things,” said Tian Dong (田东), a coach of the women’s team. “I’ve told director Bao, my superior, at the beginning that I would do this even without salary. But I guarantee you it’s definitely worth it if you offer me RMB 1 million (roughly $145,260 USD) per year for the post. You tell me if it’s worth it if you trade 1 million yuan for an Olympic gold medal.”

Sources and Reads:

• The New York Times: China’s Pride: A 24-Karat Olympic Machine
• The Guardian: AIBA calls for women’s boxing at London 2012
• The Irish Times: Taylor sets sights on gold as Olympics committee weighs up women’s boxing

Photo: People Daily

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