Chinese boxer makes history with ticket to London

QINHUANGDAO, North China - The 24-year-old Chinese girl Ren Cancan set a milestone for Chinese female boxing with a London Olympic passport after beating US Marlen Esparza 16-8 at the Qinhuangdao World Boxing Championships on Wednesday.

Ren became the first Chinese female boxer ever to get qualified for the Olympics.

Ren Cancan of China competes during women's 51kg class quarterfinals at the Qinhuangdao World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, North China's Hebei province, May 16, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

"The biggest mission finished, and I feel relaxed about the semi-final in Friday," said the world number one fighter on 51kg class.

As best female athlete at 51kg class at the current world rankings, Ren was expected to win something more than a world championships title in London.

"I have been trying hard for that, and I am going to scout on my London opponents in the coming days."

There were three Asian fighters appearing in the last eight draw at the 51kg category, while there were only two quotas offered for Asia. As a result, Ren had to wait for the result of other fighters to make sure of her qualification.

In the other ring, DPR Korea's Kim Hye-song lost to Elena Savelyeva from Russia, and Ren was sure that she could go to London.

Ren finished the match at ease. She overwhelmed her opponent 3-0 in the first round, and outscored again in the second round.

Esparza didn't drop the match after two rounds. She sped up her pace to finish the third round 3-3, refusing to give up before the final round. However, Ren let go no chance in the fourth round, ending the match with an 8-point margin.

Ren's coach Chen Tao began to think about the title after the historical moment.

"If Ren win the tournament, she will get her third straight world championship title, and no Chinese female fighters have ever achieved that," said Chen.

"It would be fantastic if Ren perfect her glory collection with a gold in London."

Qinhuangdao worlds was the only London Olympic qualifying tournament for the three women's boxing events, 51kg, 60kg and 75kg. There would be 24 Olympic quotas on offer out of the 36-fighter fixture in London. Other 12 quotas would be distributed by the continental federations as wild cards.

The three categories attracted more than 150 female fighters from all over the world. Each category was to produce eight quotas.