Women punching a ticket to london

Women's boxing is preparing to punch its way into the history books when the world championships, doubling as the sport's first ever Olympic qualifying event, take to the ring in China over the weekend.

The AIBA World Women's Championships will see medal-hungry boxers compete to secure one of 24 berths in the three London 2012 weight categories: 48-51 kg flyweight, 57-60 kg lightweight, and 69-75 kg middleweight.

Ireland's reigning world champion lightweight and gold medal hope Katie Taylor will be in search of her fourth consecutive world title at the Olympic Stadium in Qinhuangdao, on China's east coast.

But attention will also focus on Afghanistan's Sadaf Rahimi, a 17-year-old flyweight who trains at the Kabul stadium where the Taliban, which banned women from playing all sports, staged public executions.

Rahimi, who was inspired to box after meeting Muhammad Ali's daughter, Laila, has recently been honing her combinations and footwork in Britain as she bids for one of the eight spots available in her category.

Host China is also fielding one of the strongest teams, including 51 kg flyweight world champion Ren Cancan and Yang Yanzi, the 57 kg lightweight silver medalist at the last edition in 2010.

World No 3 75 kg fighter Li Jinzi will be competing for a middleweight Olympic place.

In Qinhuangdao, fighters aged 17 to 34 will compete in 10 weight categories. The general weigh-in and official draw is on Friday and preliminary bouts start on Saturday.

Agence France-Presse