For the first time, an international female boxing event takes place in Egypt between the Egyptian female national team and the Frech female national team. The event was hosted in the Olympic Center in Cairo in the 28th of June 2002. This meeting is very important for both countries that it is part of their preprations for the next female world championship. A little more than 700 female boxing fans were there to support the boxers they know and to enjoy the high quality fights. The female boxing sport is new in Egypt as well as many other countries. A lot of people did not expect that strong, fast and intertaining fights by the female. Reported By Mohammed Essam

The competitions were in 8 deferent weight categories, 45KG, 48KG, 51KG, 54KG, 57KG, 60KG, 63.5KG and 67KG. Every fight was scheduled for 3 rounds with 2 minutes per each round. In the first fight which was under 45KG, Walaa Mohsen from Egypt Could win by points against Oria Mhmoud. The same thing happened in the second fight under 48KG. that Rana Reda from Egypt could achieve a very strong victory against Zahra Ouball. In the 51KG. fight, Nadia Okmiimine from France made a very good victory against the Egyption Fathia Mahmoud.

Audrey Garcia of 54KG. from France won by points in a powerful fight Amal Ibrahim who made a nice participation in this meeting. After that we had two draws in two fights, Sabrin Helmi from Egypt & Ahlame Arsalane from France (57KG.) and Hanan Housin from Egypt & Myriam Chomaz from France (60KG.). Myriam Lamare of 63.5 from France who is the strongest fighter in this meeting could easly defeat Heba Yehia from Egypt, some say that even the male fighters will find a defeculty to defeat her. We can say that it was the most special fight. Finally Shimaa Alaa Eldin from Egypt won her fight against Esther Durand under 67KG. Jacqueline Henouil the presedent of the french delegation says that this kind of coopertion is always very important to rise the female boxing and also the friendship between the two countries. The French coach said that the Egyptian team is rising very well and the fighters became

more dangrous than before. Prof. Magda Ismail (women boxing general supervisor in Egypt) says that participating in the international events is the only way to rise our team and this will help us to achieve a good positions in the world championship.

Coach Said Hassan says that he is very happey because of the results but, by the end of the day we are looking for a big ahievement in the world championship. Prof. Ismail Hamed Osman (president of the Egyptian Amatuer Boxing Federation and vice president of the Amatuer International Boxing Association) says that this is a real historical day for the Egyptian sport. The women boxing, as it seems to be, well get more and more fans very soon that it started to be popular among youth from both sexes and expected to be more popular than the men compitions!.