Chinese women challenge stereotypes

SHANGHAI, June 19 (Reuters) In a country where women used to have their feet broken and bound to make them more attractive to men, women's boxing is growing in popularity and few people are batting an eyelid.

In an unkempt gymnasium in northern Shanghai, some 30 boys in their late teens and early 20s pair off to jockey on mats before taking it in turns to fight in the ring. At the other end of the room, eight women and girls are doing the same.

''I've only been boxing for half a year,'' said Ying Yueqi, a 16-year-old girl from China's Zhejiang province who wants to turn professional when she is older.

''My parents don't mind it at all. I come here six afternoons a week for three hours a time. I hope eventually to be as good as Dong Cheng,'' she said, pointing to a tough-looking, 1.78-metre woman sparring with her partner nearby.

''Some of my male friends are scared I might hit them,'' said the broad-shouldered Dong, 18.

''But they don't really mind women boxing, although there's not so many of us yet. This September I hope to go to Kunming in south China to compete in the national contest,'' added Dong, whose boxing hero is Muhammad Ali.

''Some of my friends still think it's abnormal but I've been into this since I was 15.'' Coach Wang Lianfang is less athletic than his students. He arrives late and smells of alcohol but is apologetic and quick to extol the virtues of women's boxing.

''You could say this represents how much China has changed.

Women's boxing has been going for 10 years only -- already we have equality of the sexes,'' said Wang, who has been boxing for more than 20 years.

OLYMPIC RECOGNITION Wang said today's men did not mind women who pursued boxing and that, besides, it kept them trim.

Shi Hongning from Henan province is among the best of the women boxing under Wang and remains deeply ambitious, though she says possible Olympic recognition of the sport would come too late for her.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year rejected a proposal to include women's boxing in the 2008 Beijing Games but said the sport's governing body could resubmit its bid for inclusion before the 2012 London Olympics.

''By 2012 I will be 30 and that's too old for boxing, but I will compete in India,'' said Shi, referring to an international annual contest.

Women's boxing was included in the 1904 Olympic Games in St.

Louis in the United States, though only as an exhibition sport.

China's men won their first Olympic boxing medal in Athens in 2004 when Zou Shiming took a shared bronze after losing his semi-final bout against Cuba's Yan Bhartelemy Varela by 29 points to 17.

Shi said she believed men and women could fight each other in the future.

''You know, I think one day women could be fighting against the men -- so long as you're about the same level it's really not a problem,'' she said.

REUTERS PM ND0916