(AUG 7) World Champion Rosilete
dos Santos supports the expansion of weight classes for the
female boxers in the next Olympics Games.
Rosilete dos Santos said women's boxing needs more
representation. The women's boxing has been included
in the Olympics Games in the last edition in 2012. However, only
three weight categories were included.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has promised to review
the disputes for the next game in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 2016.
However, the difference between men's boxing and women's boxing
in the Olympics seems to continue in the next game, which will
take place in 2016.
The men's boxing will be played with ten weight categories while
women's boxing will continue with only three categories.
For the world champion Rosilete dos Santos, the difference
within the sport hinders the growth of women's boxing.
"I think the biggest difficulty that women face is the lack of support,
both in Olympic boxing, and professionally," Santos said.
Given this large difference that will happen in the sport at the
Olympics in 2016, Rosilete dos Santos came on board in the
campaign of WBAN (Women Boxing Archive Network), which organized
a
petition on
behalf of female boxers having more representation [more weight
classes].
After that, Rosilete dos Santos wrote a letter of support and a
protest because this situation.
Santos added, "With
only three categories, injury to the female Olympic boxing is
huge. This limits the number of women in the Olympics and also
causes them to withdraw from the Olympic boxing. Three
categories makes the difference in weight much greater and the
boxers have to lose or gain too much weight. The IOC should
change its decision and open up more options. If men have 10
categories, we women might have the same number and can make
sure that women have fight levels in all categories. I being a
Brazilian and world champion, will fight hard for that to be
changed, even in a competition in my country."
"This lack of support was one of the reasons for my early
retirement from boxing. Much is made in ending
discrimination between men and women, but this inequality we see
in some points, as is happening in Olympic boxing. If we do not
change and show that it is possible to reach the top, this
difference will not end. Therefore, we have to keep fighting in
every way and I will be part of this fight, " said Santos.
WBAN
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