CHANGCHUN, Northeast China: China's national boxing team is on the rise ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the chairman of the Chinese Boxing Association said on the sidelines of the 1st Chinese women's boxing championships on Tuesday.

"Since Bai Chongguang got a gold medal in the 81kg class at the 11th Asian Games in 1990 and Zou Shiming won a bronze medal in 48kg at the Athens Olympics, Chinese boxing has become more and more mature," said Chang Jianping, also director of the boxing and taekwondo administrative center of State General Administration of Sport.

According to Chang talented boxers are emerging frequently, a sure sign that the sport is in good health.

"Worlds gold medal winner Zhang Maomao, Zhang Xiyan and Zou have combined to give boxing a shot in the arm," said Chang.

"Chinese boxing, no matter whether men's or women's, is developing leaps and bounds. Many fighters are reaching a competitive international level, particularly in the men's 48kg."

Although the sport is developing fast, a gold medal at next year's Beijing Games remains a tall order.

In Asia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan all pose a threat, and the Philippines, South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are strong in certain categories.

Cuba and Russia are the dominant powers in the sport, claiming five and three gold medals respectively out of 11 at the Athens Olympics.

"Chinese men's and women's boxing will develop together, no matter if the latter makes it to the 2012 Olympics or not," Chang said. "Chinese boxing may face many problems, but working out how to improve training methods is the top priority."

Xinhua

(China Daily 06/22/2007 page22)