Somini Sengupta has a great piece in The New York Times on women and boxing in India:

In India, Women See Boxing as a Way Up

TRIVANDRUM, India — “The girls punched hard.

“In a country with numerous obstacles for them, young women are gearing up to punch in the big league. . .”

Read more: Somini Sengupta

Allan Hubbard has a good article in The Independent on the search for Britain’s women boxers in the wake of the IOC announcement to include women’s boxing in the 2012 Olympics:

Inside Lines: Socks and the City: Britain’s Three Million-Dollar Babes

“They may have won the right to slug it out in London’s Olympic ring – but now the battle begins for the women who want to box for Britain in 2012.

“With just three places available, there’ll be some weighty in-fighting among a talented squad which has three European gold medallists, two bronze, and the redoubtable Nicola “Baby Face” Adams, 25, (pictured), world silver medallist bantamweight and currently the best bet to become Britain’s first million-dollar babe. Gloving up the girls is set to cost the Government an extra £2 million, the figure Derek Mapp, chair of the British Amateur Boxing Association, says is now required to underwrite the training programme. “A bid had already been submitted to UK Sport in anticipation of the IOC vote and is likely to be favourably considered because of medal potential.” Presumably this is what the girls mean by purse money. . .”

For more: Allan Hubbard

The decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier today in Berlin seems inexplicable.

As noted on these pages, women’s boxing is to be included as an Olympic event in 2012. Women’s softball is excluded.

Softball can try for inclusion again in 2020. Presently, the Beijing Olympics in 2008 will remain the last Olympic participation for softball.

It seems the IOC would rather highlight a sport that emphasizes physical violence rather than the curve of a pitched ball. Here is one justification of the inclusion of boxing:

“… “It’s a bit like fencing with gloves on. It’s technical and it’s tactical,” said Rebecca Gibson, the national women’s boxing development manager at the Amateur Boxing Association of England. “The girls who box are from very diverse backgrounds, from those using it as a way out of crime, to navy officers.””

link: Olympics opens doors to women’s boxing

Nonsense. How many children say that they are off to the park to learn to jab with their left hand? How many kids go to the park to toss a ball and play softball with their friends? The IOC has demonstrated its priorities and their decision today is regrettable.

Catherine Forsythe

BREAKING: Berlin–Women’s boxing has just been approved by the IOC as a competitive sport for the London 2012 Olympics, according to the BBC:

Women’s Boxing Gains Olympic Spot

“Women boxers will get the chance to compete for gold at London 2012 after a decision by the International Olympic Committee’s executive board.”

For more: Women’s Boxing Gains Olympic Spot

Bids from baseball, softball, squash, karate and roller sports were rejected by the IOC, while golf and rugby were approved for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games.

For more: IOC board backs golf, rugby for 2016 games

Women\'s Boxing in the Olympic Games

Photo of IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

New sports are being considered in advance of the 2012 London Olympics, including women’s boxing.

Also being considered are 50-meter sprints in swimming and mixed doubles in tennis.

At a meeting later this week in Berlin, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will discuss possible new inclusions for both the 2012 and the 2016 Olympics.

Women’s boxing was rejected four years ago for possible inclusion, citing medical reasons. If added, it will be a first for the women’s branch of the sport. While organizations like the Women’s Sports and Fitness Foundation are urging the IOC to add women’s boxing, it remains highly controversial.

For further reading: IOC studies women’s boxing, other events for 2012