Pritchard (pictured above, right), 27, will compete at lightweight (51kg) with 29-year-old Fernandes (pictured above, left) set to fight at flyweight (60kg) after both cemented their quota spots at the 2011 Women's World Amateur Championships in China last month.

Fernandes (pictured below), who moved to New Zealand from India five years ago, has been amateur boxing for just two years and is delighted to have qualified for London 2012.

"I'm really happy to be where I'm at and represent women's boxing in New Zealand," she said.

"I'm absolutely committed to giving the Olympics my best shot and hopefully things will work out.


"I'm aiming to make the country proud and fight one day at a time.

"That's the greatest thing about boxing – it's all about what happens on the day."

Meanwhile Pritchard, originally from South Africa but who has lived in New Zealand for 12 years, also expressed her delight in making the Olympic team.

"I'm over the moon," she said.

"It's a very special thing to be one of the first women to compete in boxing at the Olympic Games."

Kereyn Smith, the secretary general of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) congratulated the two women after they were named in the team for London 2012.

"Both Alexis and Siona have credible international track records and I'm delighted we have two female boxers making Olympic history," she said.

London 2012 will be the first time women compete in boxing, fighting in three weight categories of flyweight (48-51kg), lightweight (57-60kg) and middleweight (69-75kg).

However, the two Kiwi women will be the only New Zealand boxers at London 2012 – after the male fighter missed out on qualifying spots.

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