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

Photo Gallery

Seven world champions will be in action as the semifinals of the AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 take place in the Ningbo Youngor Gymnasium on Friday.

Fifty-two boxers from 17 countries will be vying for the chance to compete for gold across 13 weight divisions as the fifth edition of the premier boxing event for women draws ever closer to a climatic finale.

Leading the way will be four-times World Championships medallist (three gold, one silver) Mary "The Magnificent " Kom who will take on 2006 World Championships bronze medallist 23-year-old Ok Jong from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the 46kg semifinals. India's 25-year-old mother of twins lost to Jong in the 2008 Asian Championships final but was making her way back to boxing at the time following the birth of her sons in August. Two years ago, Kom beat Jong in the 2006 World Championships semifinals and will be looking for a repeat result as she aims to continue her title as the most successful female in boxing history.

Other world champions in action include Kom's compatriot Laishram Sarita, the current Asian champion, who will take on 26-year-old Annie Albania from the Philippines in the 52kg semis while two-times world champion Sofya Ochigava (RUS) will be looking to become the first female to win three World Championships titles in three different weight divisions when she takes on Chinese number one Jian Qin in the 57kg semifinals. Ochigava, 21, previously claimed World Championships in 2006 at 54kg and 2005 at 52kg.

Meanwhile, 60kg world champ Katie Taylor (IRL) will be out to retain her unbeaten record this year in her semifinal fixture against Russian two-times national champ Ayzznat Gadzhieva, Canada's 2005 world champion Mary Spencer, 24, will take on two-times Asian champ Suk Yong Ri of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the 66kg seimfinals while her compatriot Arianne Fortin, the defending 70kg world champ, has a tricky fixture against European champion Nurcan Carkci of Turkey.

The last world champion in action is 2005 and 2001 75kg winner Anna Laurell of Sweden who has a tricky assignment in 12-times Hungarian national champion and World Championship silver and bronze medallist Anita Ducya. Laurell, 29, won this clash in 2001 and is expected to reign again over her 28-year-old opponent.

A total of 17 countries are represented in the semifinals with the host nation China leading the qualifiers with 11 out of their 13 boxers reaching the last four while Russia (5), India, Turkey and USA (4) following close behind. Canada, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Philippines, Romania and Sweden have qualified three boxers each, while France and Hungary have two boxers and England, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Poland and the Ukraine have one each.

• Poland will be looking for its first gold medal having won a silver and three bronze in the past.
• The Philippines will be looking for its first gold or silver medals (it has won two bronze medals)
• Kazakhstan and England in search of their first medal of any colour

Friday's AIBA Women's World Championships Ningbo City 2008 semifinal action starts at 14:00 (local time).