Marycom to be AIBA Brand Ambassador

Mumbai:

In its quest to facilitate the entry of women's boxing in the next Olympic Games at London, the world governing body for the sport, AIBA, has roped in India's four-time woman world champion M C Marykom as one of its three Brand Ambassadors.

"Marykom, along with a woman boxer each from the US and Sweden, has been appointed as AIBA's Brand Ambassador to try and facilitate entry of women's boxing in the 2012 Olympic Games," AIBA's Asian vice-president Kishen Narsi said on Thursday.

Narsi, a veteran ring official who has officiated as referee/judge in virtually every Olympics and world championships for over two decades, said AIBA intends to hold competitions in five weight classes for women in London once the sport is introduced.

"We are even prepared to sacrifice some men boxers if this helps women boxing gain entry at the London Games. We are planning to field 40 women boxers, eight each in the five weight classes in the Olympics," he said.