Women's boxing is set to make its debut at the Olympics next Sunday (August 5) after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include the sport at London 2012.

The female fighters will be competing in the three weight categories of flyweight, lightweight and middleweight at London 2012 but Wu, an IOC Executive Board member who spearheaded the movement to get women's boxing included at the Olympics, said that a good showing at the Games could see women granted more spots at the Games in the future.

"Getting women's boxing onto the Olympic programme was a long road but I'm delighted that it has now happened," said Wu here.

"Boxing was the last Olympic sport that didn't have any women at the Games and it was very important that we changed that.

"I think that people will be very surprised by the talent on show with the female boxers and I hope they put on a great show.

Indian boxer MC Mary Kom during a training session ahead of the London 2012 Games

"At the moment, there are 36 female boxers at the Olympics competing in the three categories of flyweight, lightweight and middleweight.

"That is a good start.

"But if the women can put in a great performance here, which I believe they will, it will show the whole of the IOC and the public how good they are and it will give me the best possible platform to fight to get more women in more weight categories included in the sport at the next Olympics in Rio in 2016 and beyond.

"So I am very hopeful that the female boxers impress the world here."

ExCeL is the largest competition venue at the London 2012 Games

Wu added that he has been delighted with the boxing facilities for the London 2012 Games after the competition got underway yesterday.

"It has been very pleasing for me, as the President of AIBA, to see sold out crowds for the boxing competition," Wu said.

"The setting is spectacular and the fights have been fantastic so I am very happy.

"This is a historic moment for AIBA with women's boxing making its debut and this is a perfect setting for that.

"Women in sport is one of the most important issues in the Olympic Movement right now and with a stage like this one we have at London 2012, our women have the best possible chance to showcase their talent."

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