5th AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 official page

One of women's boxing's up and coming nations is making giant strides at the AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 with Australia so far the surprise package of the tournament.

With five boxers participating in the women's world championships for the first time, Australia currently sits in 15th place out of 41 countries (two wins - two defeats ) on the Ranking by Nation table with the Ningbo experience proving to be exactly that, a great chance for Australian boxers to acquaint themselves with the international arena.

Pic: Sabrina Ostawari (right) and Clair Ghabrial hold the Australian mascot "Joey" at the AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008

"We have lots of learning to do, but this is such a great learning experience," 28-year-old Sabrina Ostawari, who is competing in the 57kg class, said. "It's great to be able to measure up against other countries. There is a lot of skill on display here so we are trying to watch as much as possible and observe."

Ostawari, who had only 20 international contests to her name prior to the tournament, won her opening bout on Monday, proving to be too quick and strong for Japanese 26-year-old Chisato Mizuno. Referee Kolymykov Dmitriy of Russia stopped the bout in the second round after Ostawari had claimed the first 5:2 and was leading the second 7:0.

"I was really nervous in my first bout," the former karate expert said. "I had to the blow the cobwebs out and it was good to get the first bout out of the way."

Teammate Clair Ghabrial was also successful in her opening bout on Sunday and is again in action on Tuesday, facing Asian champion Hyon Hwa Ri of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"I made a slow start on Sunday but then something just clicked, I suddenly realised that I'm at the Women's World Championships and I better getting moving," Ghabrial, who turns 27 next month, said. "It's just an amazing experience. We don't get a lot of action in Oceania and it can be difficult to sometimes find quality opposition so this opportunity is priceless."

Ghabrial, who took up the sport of boxing because it is "more exciting" than kick boxing which she had earlier practised and "it's the hardest six minutes in one's life both mentally and physically," is unbeaten with 15 victories, including the nail biter on Sunday when she trailed Poland's 2007 European Championships silver medallist Oliwa Luczak 3:2 after two rounds before clinching the contest 5:4.   
 
On a day which will see the last of the Preliminary Round bouts, five world champions will be in action on Tuesday, with two-times world champion Anna Laurell of Sweden starring in the last bout of the day in a 75kg contest against Trinidad's Pan American games silver medallist Chimere Taylor while 60kg world champion Katie Taylor (IRE) will be expected to maintain her unbeaten record this year when she comes up against the relatively unknown Danusa Dilhofova of the Czech Republic.

Other world champions to feature include India's 52kg Laishram Sarita, who takes on two-times World Championship bronze medallist Samiha Hassan of Egypt, Canada's 66kg 2005 world champion Mary Spencer who faces European champion Irina Poteyeva (RUS) and in another Canada v Russia contest, 2006 70kg world champion Ariane Fortin takes on Elena Vystropova.

Tuesday's action starts at 14:00 local time.