Steep learning curve for Australia - August 30 / 2007
“It’s all about experience.”
That is what Australian coach Alan Nicholson says referring to his five-strong team’s objectives ahead of the 2007 AIBA Cadet World Boxing Championships, which start on Friday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“As a nation, we only manage to occasionally send our young boxers overseas so for this tournament we are definitely throwing our boys in the deep end,”
he explained.
“But we need to do things like that. This is the biggest stage for this age group and our guys will be definitely up against it but this is why we’ve come, to give our guys experience so that they’ll be better prepared come the Olympic Games.”
The 6th edition of the tournament for boxers aged 15 and 16 years old has attracted 230 boxers from 39 countries.
Australia has travelled the furthest - 13,234km - than any other competing nation but that won't stop them when the first preliminary fights begin on Friday evening following the opening ceremony (18:00 local time).
“It’s going to be tough with Cuba, Russia and Azerbaijan all favoured to do well here, but that is what a world championship tournament is all about, putting yourself up against the best in the business.”
Australia last competed in the AIBA Cadet World Championships in 2002, with one boxer participating in the tournament. |