China will have six men and three women flying the colours of the country during the boxing event at the London 2012 Olympic Games and amongst these is the reigning Light Flyweight (46-49kg) Olympic Champion Zou Shiming. At 31, this is probably Zou's last appearance on the biggest stage of all and he has been really focused on creating history and joining the select few legendary boxers to have defended their Olympic title.
The extremely talented fighter from Guizhou is one of the most decorated boxers in the history of the sport with a further three gold medals at the AIBA World Boxing Championships in his trophy cabinet as well as a Olympic bronze medal from the 2004 Athens Games. Zou has been a member of his national squad since 2001 and has also won the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010. "I am a highly ambitious man. Asian, World or Olympic gold medals, whatever China hasn't got, I want", declared the London 2012 Olympic Games favourite as he trained in Guiyang City. A proud patriot, his experience will be vital when he takes to the ring at the ExCeL London.
China is one of the world's top nations when it comes to women's boxing and their best chance of Olympic glory lies with three-time AIBA World Champion and Asian Games winner Ren Cancan, who is the favourite in the Flyweight (51kg) category. Ren is only 24 but has been the most successful Chinese athletes in the history of women's boxing. Her main rivals in London will be England's Nicola Adams and India's five-time AIBA World Champion Chungneijang Mery Kom Hmangte, also known as Mary Kom.
Two-time AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships silver medallist Dong Cheng was selected by the Tripartite Quota Commission to participate at the Olympic Games this year and her excellent footwork could see her challenging for medals at Lightweight (60kg).
Former AIBA World Champion and multiple-Asian Champion Li Jinzi also secured a medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships Qinhuangdao 2012, delighting the home crowd with her electric performances. She will be gunning for a podium finish in London too. The 22-year-old boxer has been a member of her national squad since 2006 and has been the dominant force at Middleweight (75kg) on the Asian continent in recent years.
23-year-old Asian Champion Maimaitituersun Qiong comes from the Western Chinese Xinjiang province and has probably the best footwork in the whole of the men's Welterweight (69kg) category and he is now ready to make his mark in London. Having participated at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, Qiong now has the experience to do really well.
Powerful Asian Games winner Zhang Zhilei was a silver medallist at the last edition of the Olympic Games in Beijing and claimed a bronze at the 2009 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Milan. The Chinese Super Heavyweight (+91kg) was too strong for his continental opponents at the AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifying Event Astana 2012 in April and travels to London with a return to the podium in his sights.
Veteran Lightweight (60kg) Asian Championships silver medallist Liu Qiang won the AIBA Asian Olympic Qualifying Event Astana 2012 and is in good form coming into what will be his last appearance at the Olympic Games. Chinese Light Heavyweight No.1 Meng Fanlong from Inner Mongolia also has all the physical skills to achieve a podium finish in London.
Asian Championships silver medallist Wang Xuanxuan is the youngest member in the men's team but despite his tender years qualified for the Olympic Games following his bronze medal at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Baku 2011. Wang increased his international experience in two strong European tournaments this year and will have medal aspirations in the British capital.
Zou Shiming has been his nation's leading light over the last decade and will head an experienced squad at the London 2012 Olympic Games. There are high hopes back in China that several medals will be brought back to an expectant country.
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