The medals that will be awarded during the 2016 Women’s World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana have been unveiled ©AIBA

The medals that will be awarded during the 2016 Women’s World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana have been unveiled.

With a design mimicking ancient Kazakh zoomorphic patterns, the gold, silver and bronze medals represent Scythian art - a decoration traditionally used to deliver power, good luck and protection to the wearer.

Made of Italian enamel, they feature the Women’s World Boxing Championships logo on the front and both the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the Kazakhstan Boxing Federation logos on the back.

A total of 40 medals will be won in 10 weight divisions during the nine-days of competition, due to be held at the Barys Arena from May 19 to 27.

All 10 champions will receive a medal covered in an alloy containing real gold and weighing approximately 110 grams.

The official mascot has also been revealed with Maya the squirrel set to be the face of the event.

It is claimed that Maya is quick and elegant, much like all the registered female fighters, and represents the speed, grace and beauty of women’s boxing.

Additionally, the official website of the event has been launched and can be accessed by clicking here. 

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Maya the squirrel will be the face of the 2016 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships ©AIBA

The ninth edition of the Women’s World Boxing Championships will provide 12 of the 300-plus competing athletes with Olympic quota places for Rio de Janeiro later this year - four at each of the three Olympic weight classes; 51 kilograms, 60 kg and 75kg.

The tournament was originally due to take place from February 1 to 14, but an AIBA spokesperson told insidethegames in November it had been pushed back three months in order to give organisers more time to prepare.

The controversial decision means it will come after the European Olympic Qualification tournament, due to be staged in Turkish city Samsun from April 9 to 17.

A total of six qualification berths for Rio 2016 will be available in the three Olympic women’s boxing categories, with two to be awarded in each.

If a boxer meets the qualification criteria at both the European qualifier and the World Championships, their place at the second event will take priority.

The spot they give up will then be given to the next highest-ranked athlete and if two competitors from the same country have earned their ticket to Rio 2016 in the same weight category, the respective National Federation will choose which boxer to send to the Brazilian city.