WORLD CHAMP TAG MORE THAN OLYMPIC GLORY, SAYS NOUCHKA
NEWDELHI: For a boxer, staying too long in the shadows of a rival can be frustrating. Netherlands’ Nouchka Fontijn must have felt that.
Twice in 2016, the Dutch middleweight boxer faced USA’s Claressa Shields — at the Rio Olympics and the Astana World Championship finals — and lost both times.
More than the Olympics, it was the World Championship final loss that rankled Nouchka more. Claressa, since her Rio win, shifted to professional boxing but Nouchka has no such aim.
For the 31-year-old, it’s the World Championship gold which is her prime target.
“For me, winning an Olympics gold is not much harder than winning the World Championship. Olympics are big for the spectators, for the country. For me it is to become world champion, to be able to say you are the best in the world,” said the topseeded Nouchka after winning her pre-quarterfinal bout against Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat on Monday.
“I am not bothered about my top seeding. Even if I was the No. 20 seed this time, my sole aim would have been the gold at the World Championships.
“I want to be the best in the world. Olympics are still some time away and I am not focusing on that.”
Asked if she harbours the ambition of taking revenge from Claressa, Nouchka said: “I have no intention to move to pro boxing. So, in near future I won’t be facing her.”
EARLY DAYS
Nouchka started amateur boxing in 2007 and in two years was the Dutch national champion in 2009. However, it all started with hockey for her.
“At a young age, I was training for hockey when a friend of mine invited me to join taekwondo classes. I fell in love with the sport. “But after some time my hand movements got better and my coach advised me to take up boxing. As I started boxing, I just fell in love for the second time!” she said.
The Netherlands boxer is in India for the first time and is yet to meet the competitors from the host nation. “I am competing for the world title and for my family it’s an Indian holiday. They are here to cheer for me and explore the city. But I haven’t been able to meet the Indian boxers personally. They are so many of them in the stadium,” said Nouchka.