TeamSG's Historic Debut at IBA Women's World Boxing Championships!

(From L to R) TeamSG's Rafhana Rosli, Wann Chee, Leah Warden, Danisha Mathialagan and Efasha Kamarudin. Photo Credit : Singapore Boxing Federation

Hundreds of boxers from 65 countries around the globe are in New Delhi for the IBA Women's World Championships from 15-26 March 2023. The US$2.4 million tournament featuring 8 Olympic medallists, will fight for pride and glory, which India is hosting for a record third time. 

With the SEA Games and Asian Games taking place for the very 1st time in the same year, Singapore's Boxing Federation (SBF) decided to send a team of 5 debutants to the IBA event. Here's ActiveSG Circle's interview with Team Singapore's National Head Coach, Mohamed Ridhwan.

Q : What compelled the Singapore Boxing Federation to send athletes to compete at the upcoming IBA Women's World Championships and for the very 1st time?
Ridhwan : Women’s boxing has been on the rise. And SBF has been been working together with our local women’s boxing community, to develop talent and provide them with the best training and competition opportunities. Our ladies have shown hunger and the desire to compete and have gotten results at some local and International tournaments. Thus, it’s time we continue to work towards achieving victories at major tournaments overseas, with the World Championships being one of them.

Q : How was the group of 5 TeamSG boxers chosen for the coming campaign in India?
Ridhwan : Commitment to training, attitude, potential, results or performances from recent competitions - with consideration that competing at the World Championships can help build them to be better boxers representing Singapore.

Q : What are you hoping from our Team Singapore athletes in India?
Ridhwan : I hope for our boxers to get a good draw, get some wins, get a medal and to show the other countries that we are a nation to look out for, when it comes to women’s boxing.

Q : How long have the 5 boxers been training for this event?
Ridhwan : The current Women’s boxing team has been training together for about 2 years and in preparation specifically for the World Championships, they have a 2-month training camp.

Q : Looking at your overall plans, what does competing in the World Champs mean for the sport of boxing for 2023?
Ridhwan : Competing at the World Championships is to reaffirm ourselves that we are on the right track. And that the current system we've built and will continue to improve is working. Getting good results can give us opportunities to represent Singapore at other major games. And we want SG boxing to be actively involved and continue to get better, which will help elevate the standard of boxing in Singapore as a whole.

TeamSG's 5 boxers for the World Championships campaign are featured below in video-interview profiles as well as trivia segments. 

Efasha Kamarudin  (Competes in Flyweight, 50-52Kg Class)

Current Age : 31

Started Boxing : 21 years old

Boxer/person you admire the most?
Efasha : There are so many…Kostya Tszyu, Erik Morales and more 

Personal Favourite Boxing Move/Manoeuvre and why?
Efasha :  Jab and cross. simple and easy

Pre-Fight Fav Drink/Meal/Snack
Efasha : Pasta cos it fuels the energy/body the best!

Pre-Fight Fav Song/Artiste
Efasha : Rap songs in a foreign language. Russian rap pumps me the most

To hear directly from Efasha, catch the short video profile below.

Profile of TeamSG Boxer, Efasha Kamarudin. Video Production Credit : Sport Singapore

Danisha Mathialagan  (Competes in Light Flyweight, 48-50Kg Class)

Current Age : 25

Started Boxing : 17 years old

Personal Favourite Boxing Move/Manoeuvre and why?
Danisha : Jab step back 1-2, because I like straight punches... lol!

For more trivia details of Danisha, catch the video preview below. 

Profile of TeamSG Boxer, Danisha Mathialagan. Video Production Credit : Sport Singapore

Wann Chee Wai Kei  (Competes in Minimum weight, 45-48Kg Class)

Current Age : 19

Started Boxing : 5 years old

Personal Favourite Boxing Move/Manoeuvre and why?
Wai Kei : Overhand right, I can fully exert power with that specific punch

For more trivia details of Wai Kei, catch the video preview below. 

Profile of TeamSG Boxer, Wai Kei. Video Production Credit : Sport Singapore

Rafhana Binte Rosli  (Competes in Bantamweight, 52-54Kg Class)

Current Age : 33

Started Boxing : 22 years old

Personal Favourite Boxing Move/Manoeuvre and why?
Rafhana : Gazelle hook. When it lands, it’s beautiful. But it’s also risky to throw. This was one of Joe Frazier’s moves too!

For more trivia details of Rafhana, catch the video preview below. 

Profile of TeamSG Boxer, Rafhana Rosli. Video Production Credit : Sport Singapore

Leah-Diane Warden Xiu Yu (Competes in Welterweight, 63-66Kg Class)

Current Age : 26 

Started Boxing : 25 years old

Boxer/person you admire the most?
Leah : I’m relatively new to the boxing world and don’t really have a favourite boxer, but I’ve been watching more breakdowns of older fighters like Roberto Duran and Willie Pep. 

Personal Fav Momento/Souvenir from Boxing
Leah : For Christmas last year, my coach James gave me his old glove that was signed by Roberto Duran.

Boxing gloves signed by Panamian legend, Roberto Duran. Photo Credit : Leah Warden

Pre-Fight Fav Drink/Meal/Snack
Leah : I always stick to the same things every fight - Loads of water and electrolytes, then a fruit smoothie. Usually something tropical like kiwi, pineapple, coconut and mango. I also like snacking on frozen fruit like mango and pineapples.

Pre-Fight Fav Song/Artiste
Leah : Can’t go wrong with the rocky soundtrack

Personal Favourite Boxing Move/Manoeuvre and why?
Leah : Liver shot. It’s one of the hardest shots to land for me, I’d love to be able to land a clean liver shot to end a fight. 

To hear directly from Leah, catch the short video profile below.

Profile of TeamSG Boxer, Leah-Warden. Video Production Credit : Sport Singapore

Singapore's historic debut at the Women's World Championships begins on Thursday, 16 March 2023. You can follow the journey of our TeamSG boxers at the event's website here.

(From L to R) TeamSG's Rafhana Rosli, Wai Kei, Leah Warden, Danisha Mathialagan and Efasha Kamarudin. Photo Credit : Singapore Boxing Federation