MAY 30 - A GROUP of Irish women have launched a new campaign for them to be allowed to box in the 2012 Olympics.
Anya Norman, the development officer for women's boxing with the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, is leading the fight.
She said: "Girls have not been out of boxing, they have had a pause since the 20th Century, we had female boxing in the Olympics in 1904."
The sport has increased in popularity in recent years thanks to boxers like Laila Ali and Jaqueline Frazier-Lyde - daughters of boxing legends and old rivals Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier.
In Coleraine last tweekend, 20 of the top sportswomen from the both sides of the Irish border took part in a special training camp.
Trainer Ian McSorley claimed not be surprised by the large turn-out.
He said: "It is equality nowadays."
Among the young women taking part in the training camp was Caroline Connolly from Strabane.
Having seven brothers probably prompted her interest in boxing, she said.
Connolly said: "I was going to join when I was 13, but my brother who was in the boxing club at the time didn't want me as he said they'd laugh at me."
European lightweight champion Katie Taylor from Wicklow has already enjoyed success.
Taylor said: "It is a very tough sport, but I love the training.
"The best thing is winning the gold medal, standing up on the podium and hearing your national anthem.
"There is nothing like it."
She, too, would like to see her sport feature in the Olympics.
It is about equality after all, she claimed.
She said: "Men are allowed to box, so women should be allowed to as well.
"Hopefully, in London in 2012, we will be classed as an Olympic sport."
