WORLD CHAMP TAG MORE THAN OLYMPIC GLORY, SAYS NOUCHKA
NEW DELHI: 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 Championships final loss that rankled Nouchka. Claressa, since her Rio win, shifted to professional boxing but Nouchka has no such aim. For the 31-year-old, it’s the World Championships gold which is her prime target.
“For me, winning an Olympics gold is not much harder than winning the World Championships. 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 avenging her loss to 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 within two years was the Dutch national champion. “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!”. The Netherlands boxer is in India for the first time. “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. They are so many of them in the stadium,” said Nouchka.