Harris selected for Commonwealth Games

Kristy Harris. (Supplied) 278962_01

Geelong region boxer Kristy Harris will be pulling on the green and gold at the Commonwealth Games for the second time later this year.

The 29-year-old was this week announced as one of 11 members selected for the Australian boxing team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

It will be the second time Harris has represented Australia at the Games, after previously competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Harris created history at Glasgow by winning a bout on the first-ever women’s boxing card in the historic competition and will return after missing selection for the Gold Coast Games in 2018.

“To be part of history was amazing. To hear the crowd when we came out, after all the work I put into this, and to know that it was finally happening, was great,” Harris said.

She is hoping to go further than Glasgow, where she defeated in the quarter finals.

Harris is already training in the UK, with IBA Women’s World Championships scheduled for next month, ahead of the Games in July.

Boxing Australia general manager Dinah Glykidis said she was expecting good things from Australia’s boxing team at the Games.

“We have nominated an exciting group of talented boxers who are ready to test themselves against the best fighters across the Commonwealth,” she said.

“Boxing Australia athletes provided many thrills at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and I’m sure our 11 boxers are ready to represent the green and gold in Birmingham.

“On behalf of Boxing Australia, we commend the hard work each of the 11 fighters have put in to get to this moment, we are so proud of each of them. We know they will continue practicing and improving over the next few months and we can’t wait to see them compete at the Games.”