Six young Dutch boxers will compete at the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifier

The Netherlands selected six boxers for the upcoming 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which will be held in Busto Arsizio, Italy from February 29.

The Netherlands earned one gold, two silver and five bronze medals in their Olympic boxing history, mostly in the beginning of the 20^th century.

Their last Olympic medal was a bronze which was achieved by the Dutch superstar, Nouchka Fontijn at the recent Tokyo Games three years ago.

The country did not have any qualified boxers between 1996 and 2012 but the Dutch boxers returned to the Olympic Games in 2016 and in 2021.

The coaches of the national team, Mr. Waleed Shekho and Mr. Caner Sayit have been selected a young squad for the upcoming 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.

Maud Van der Toorn earned a gold medal at the 2022 Youth World Boxing Championships and she joined the elite competitions only this January. The Dutch teenager moved down to the women’s featherweight (57kg) and her technical skills could be paid off in Busto Arsizio.

Their best and most experienced female boxer, the 25-year-old Chelsey Heijnen earned a surprise bronze medal at the 2022 Women’s World Boxing Championships and she is among the favourites at the lightweight (60kg).

Luna Beeloo will be turning to only 21 this year but she reached the quarter-finals in the previous European Games in Poland where she was near to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the women’s welterweight (66kg).

A European U22 Championships silver medallist, Mustafa Akraa, returned to the squad after a long break and he will be boxing at the light welterweight (63.5kg) in Italy.

Tony Jas (71kg) and another European U22 medallist, Gradus Kraus (80kg) competed in various international events in the recent two years to be ready for a quota in 2024.

The third and final quota event, the 2^nd World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from May 23.