The first woman ever to take to the boxing ring at a Commonwealth Games for Team Scotland as she made her debut at Gold Coast 2018, Vicky Glover has already become something of a trailblazer in Scottish women’s boxing at the age of just 19. In another ‘first’, she is one of three women selected as part of Scotland’s first ever female contingent at the World Elite Championships, which begin this week in Delhi, India.

With preliminary bouts getting underway on Thursday 15 November, she joins Stephanie Kernachan and Megan Reid in making Scottish Boxing history as she goes for glory in the 57kg category. Fully aware of the significance of the occasion she is ready for the challenge and determined to set the bar high for those that follow in her footsteps.

“It’s a privilege to be one of Scotland’s first women to compete at the World Championships,” she said. “This is a big step for female boxing in Scotland and shows great progress within the sport. I would love to perform to my best and win a medal.”

Her track record shows she is capable of fulfilling that ambition, with 5^th place at the 2017 World Youth Championships and an agonisingly close split decision in Gold Coast denying her from adding the historic achievement of becoming Scotland’s first ever female boxing medallist at the Commonwealth Games.

A win in the quarter-finals would have guaranteed her bronze and yet another place in history. Matched up against the experienced Canadian Sabrina Aubin-Boucher, Vicky put in a phenomenal performance with two of the five judges scoring her the winner. Unfortunately the other three gave it to the Canadian, but despite the disappointment of being so close yet so far from a medal ‘Down Under’ she has shown true strength of character and quietly refocused on the next goal.

“My experience in the Gold Coast was one of a lifetime,” she said. “Apart from competing, what I enjoyed most was getting to know all the other athletes from different sports and countries and how we all came together. Next up is the World Championships where I would love to medal and apart from that my main aim for the next year is to get on the GB boxing team and to win another Scottish and British title. I ultimately hope to be selected for Birmingham 2022 and aim for a gold medal.”

That steely determination caught the eye of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Youth Trust when it came to choosing a select bunch of young athletes to receive PHM Athlete Awards for the coming year.

“I am very grateful to receive a PHM Athlete Award,” said Vicky. “It will help me in so many ways to achieve my goal, for example helping with training costs, travel expenses and training kit. This takes the stress away from me, meaning I can focus fully on my goal of winning a medal at the World Championships.”

The Women’s World Boxing Championships take place in Delhi, India from 15-24 November 2018. Follow Vicky and her team mates’ progress on Boxing Scotland’s Facebook page.