She may have guaranteed herself at least a bronze medal at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Jeju Island but Great Britain’s Lisa Whiteside’s thoughts are only on getting gold.
Whiteside, who is Britain’s sole flyweight representative in South Korea with Olympic and Commonwealth champion Nicola Adams absent through injury, already has a world bronze medal to her name from two years ago in China.
She will definitely add another medal to that collection after booking her place in the semi-final of the competition with a victory over Canada’s Mandy Bujold.
Her opponent in that semi on Sunday will be Terry Gordini of Italy, with the chance of a place in the final and a shot at gold waiting for the winner.
First up for the 29-year-old is a day’s break but Whiteside is already fired up about the chance of a first ever world title.
“I am really pleased with how it has gone so far and am so grateful to the coaches for believing in me and all the support from back home, especially my family,” she said.
“I am going to enjoy my day off tomorrow with the great team around me and then get myself back to business to in order to change the colour of my medal.”
Whiteside is not the only Great Britain boxer definitely assured of a bronze medal with Sandy Ryan convincingly overcoming light-welterweight opponent Simon Sitar of Romania.
The 21-year-old, who now faces Thailand’s Sudaporn Seesondee for a place in the final, is contesting her first major tournament as a senior – not that she is letting the experience overcome her.
“I am feeling amazing. I know a lot of people thought that I was maybe coming here just for experience, but deep down I knew I could do something here,” she said.
“I have left no stone unturned and have worked so hard for this opportunity. I can’t wait now to box in the semis and to keep showing everyone what I am capable of.”
© Sportsbeat 2014