EUBC's European Women's Youth and Junior Championships underway

There is no stopping women's boxing after the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the fourth edition of the EUBC's European Women's Youth and Junior Championships will give the world another glimpse of the abundance of talent coming through the ranks. The competition got underway yesterday in Wladyslawowo, Poland.

The European Boxing Confederation launched this event for the youth and junior women back in 2008 and it has been a roaring success ever since. It allows fledgling talent to test itself on the big stage. The previous editions in Yambol, Bulgaria in Sangatte, France and in Orenburg, Russia, showcased exactly why women's boxing is taking the world by storm.

In Wladyslawowo, a record number of nations are competing with Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey and Wales all having sent athletes. 94 youth and 96 junior boxers are taking part in this tough continental event.

The host nation's youth team is the one a lot of people will be keeping their eye on. AIBA Junior World Championships bronze medallist Kamila Zawol, Laura Grzyb, AIBA Junior World Champion Hanna Solecka and European Junior Champion Patrycja Woronowicz have got enough experiences to win their weight classes on home soil.

Russia's AIBA Youth Women's World Championships silver medallist Svetlana Dmitriyeva, Lyudmilla Shakhova, Oksana Paltseva, Irina Tsarkova and AIBA Junior World Champion Saida Gamidova are the golden hopes at youth level while the next generation of Russian junior boxers are amongst the favourites for medals.

Sweden's top youth boxer, 18-year-old Patricia Berghult, is a titleholder and has an unbeaten record to protect at this level. Her compatriot, 17-year-old AIBA Junior World Champion Ida Lundblad linked up with the youth squad and is one to look out for. Their best junior boxer is defending 16-year-old AIBA Junior World Champion Agnes Alexiusson and also has got gold medal expectations in Wladyslawowo.

Ukraine sent a full 10-member youth team with top athletes, 17-year-old European Junior Champion Viktoriya Virt and Marina Malovanova both seeking glory. Their best junior hope is European Junior Champion Irina Vinnik, who is fighting at the over 80kg weight division.

Three of Hungary's most talented boxers, all bronze medallists last year, will be competing once again. Lili Vary, Kornelia Kitti Nagy and Nikolett Csosz are all great hopes while Petra Szatmari, who competed at the AIBA Women's World Championships Qinhuangdao 2012, also has her eyes on reaching the top of the podium.

One of the best European hopes is Netherlands' super talented 16-year-old AIBA Women's Junior World Championships bronze medallist Alicia Holsken, who is still unbeaten this year. England's best chance lies with European Junior Champion Sarah Rostron and Wales sees European Championships bronze medallist Lauren Price as their best bet for honours.

These will be the women looking to make an impact during the next four years and follow in the footsteps of Nicola Adams, Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, by claiming the gold medal on the biggest stage of all. Who will be the ones to make their mark?
 

Sweden's big hope, Patricia Berghult  (Photo: Erik Bredler)

Source:  www.aiba.org/en-US/news/ozqsp/newsId/5098/news.aspx