(NOV 10) Nicola Adams and
Savannah Marshall are not among the entries for this month’s
EUBC Women’s European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, (14 – 24
November 2016).
As we have said here on WBAN
earlier this week Adams is considering turning Pro with
Matchroom Boxing but officially both boxers are said to be
‘taking a break’ after Rio.
The team includes 2014 World Championship silver medallists,
Lisa Whiteside at flyweight (51kg) and Sandy Ryan at lightweight
(60kg). The pair will be joined by Chantelle Cameron at
light-welterweight (64kg) and Natasha Gale who will compete at
middleweight (75kg).
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken, said: “The
European Championships is always a tough assignment however our
boxers have a good record in this tournament so we are
approaching it in a positive frame of mind.
“As we head into the next Olympic cycle, it is a good
opportunity for the boxers that did not feature at Rio to show
what they can do and press their claim for selection at the
Olympic weights as we look towards Toyko 2020.”
For Derby’s Sandy Ryan the European Championships will be her
first major tournament competing in the Olympic lightweight
(60kg) category, having previously won a silver medal at the
2014 World Championships and a bronze at the 2015 European Games
at light-welterweight (64kg).
The 23-year-old heads to Sofia in good form, having won gold on
her last two outings at the Balkan Tournament in Bulgaria and
most recently at the Feliks Stamm in Poland where she was named
Best Technical Boxer of the Tournament.
Ryan said: “I am in a good run of form and am looking forward to
competing in a major tournament in the lightweight category. It
is a confidence boost to be selected in the Olympic weight class
and an opportunity for me to really establish myself as the
number one lightweight in the GB squad and show that I have the
ability to be successful in this weight division.”
One can expect Ryan to medal in Sofia especially, if as seems
likely, Olympic and World champion Estelle Mossely does not take
part. Cameron too at 64kg will hope to return with a medal from
Sofia.
All four of the women from the GB Boxing squad will compete for
England at the European Championships. They will travel in a
party with three other boxers that have been selected by England
Boxing to compete at the tournament. Demie-Jade Resztan will
compete at light-flyweight (48kg), Ramla Ali at bantamweight
(54kg) and Raven Chapman at featherweight (57kg).