Rob McCracken has challenged Great Britain's women boxers to prove they can follow in the footsteps of double Olympic champion Nicola Adams.
GB have named a seven-strong squad to head to New Delhi for the AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championships, a major stepping stone on the road to Tokyo 2020.
Four Commonwealth Games medallists are among their number, with Lauren Price and Sandy Ryan heading to India after Gold Coast golds, while Rosie Eccles and Paige Murray each claimed silvers in Australia.
The young squad is completed by Ebonie Jones, Ellie Scotney and 2016 European Champion Natasha Gale – who provides important experience for the group.
“The World Championships is always a very tough test and will provide us with a good indication of how we are progressing with the women’s programme as we look to build a new team for Tokyo 2020,” McCracken said.
“This is a relatively inexperienced group, as we have had a number of senior female boxers leave the squad this cycle, so it is an opportunity for some of the newer boxers to show that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.”
Price – who became the first Welsh woman to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games when she took bronze at Glasgow 2014 – is one of only two squad members who has prior experience of fighting at the worlds.
And the 24-year-old is hoping to continue her remarkable form all the way to the podium, as she looks to cap a stellar season.
“This has definitely been the best year of my boxing career so far and it would be lovely to end it on a high by winning a medal at the Worlds,” she said.
“I have been on the world class programme now for over a year and I am really feeling the benefit of being a full-time athlete and training three times a day.
“My preparation has been great and I am definitely feeling confident going into the event.”
Ryan is the only other fighter who has competed at the worlds, and will arrive in India in similar form to that of Price.
The Derby native took light welterweight silver at the 2014 championships in Jeju, and wants to go one better this time out.
“At my last tournament in Spain I won the gold medal and beat the current European Champion, so I am going to the World Championships in great form,” she said.
“I know it is going to be a very tough event, but I am feeling in great shape at the moment and confident that if I box my best then I can go a long way in this tournament.”
The AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championships take place in New Delhi from 15-24 November. Sportsbeat 2018