Three of Australia's women boxers are a step closer to representing their country at the London 2012 Olympics after being crowned national champions in Hobart on Monday.
Canberra's Bianca Elmir took out the flyweight (51kg) title, Queenslander Jessica Rettalick triumphed in the lightweight (60kg) division and Western Australian Naomi Fischer-Rasmussen won the middleweight (75kg) crown.
Female boxing will be making its debut at the 2012 Games, and in order to qualify the trio must finish in the top eight in their respective weight categories at the World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, from May 21 to June 3.
Flyweight, lightweight and middleweight are the only three divisions available to female boxers at London 2012, and 29-year-old Elmir has been training overseas for the last seven months to maximise her chances of representing Australia.
Elmir's victory over Western Australian Kelly McGrath on Monday capped off the first step on her road to London, and she said it had been worth all the hard work.
"It's been a long, hard road," she said. "My strategy going into the Championships was just to be completely focused."
"I've trained so hard and have a determined mission in my head so I just avoided distraction and stayed focused."
Although the odds of Olympic qualification are stacked against her, Elmir is confident that with more hard work she can earn a spot.
"There will be over 60 girls in my weight division, but I am confident I can finish top eight," she said.
"I am not there yet but I know where my gaps are and I'm confident I can bridge those gaps if I train as hard over the next six months as I did over the last six."
Despite the reputation boxing has as a blood sport, Elmir said people often underestimate the tactical nature of the game, especially in the amateur ranks.
"I understand boxing can be shocking and confronting to some people but it's not as combative as people think," Elmir said.
"It's a sport, it's points-based and it's very strategic. I think it's only a matter of time, as women progress in the sport, until it is regarded with respect."
"It just takes one person to capture the imagination of the public and I can see women being at the forefront of boxing in the future."