(FEB 12) Jacqueline Park of the Bay
Area Athletic club located in Burlington Ontario, Canada recently
defended her position on Canada’s National amateur team at the 48kg
light flyweight division with an impressive 16-0 win over Sandra
Chamberland of Quebec and a 24-1 victory over Judy Pereira of
Manitoba. Park has won the national title four times and has been a
member of the Canadian National team in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
She said it is an honour to represent
Canada at the international level and “winning Nationals four times
has been amazing! It has given me the opportunity to fight at many
international tournaments against some of the best boxers in the
world.” Park has had over 70 bouts in her amateur career thus far.
She annually competes at the Ringside World boxing championships in
Kansas City, United States and has won the title four times.
Park is coached by Muzammel Nawaz and is a member of TAZ (Team Abu
Zayd). Her good friend and fellow amateur boxer Jackie Lachapelle
influenced her decision in training at that club. Jacqueline has
always wanted to be a boxer however the opportunities were not
always there. “I’m not sure why exactly but I have wanted to box
since I was 8 or 10 years old unfortunately there weren’t any girls
boxing at that time so I had to wait until I was well into my 20’s.
Overall, I think it’s the combination of the physical and mental
challenges that I love so much and the rush I get each time I step
into the ring.”
Away from the ring Park teaches yoga and also runs a small natural
health and yoga store within the studio. Park stated that “holistic
health, yoga and family are also very important to me. To be honest
training, teaching and competing is how I spend most of my time,
however I always try to balance this with family and friends. After
that, there isn’t much leftover.”
At the AIBA Women’s World Boxing
Championships in Ningbo City, China which took place in November
2008, Park won her first bout 6-5 over Asian Champion Kalpana
Chowdhury of India and her second bout 4-3 over Alice Kate Aparri of
the Philippines. However, Jacqueline lost her third bout 8-2 against
eventual silver medalist Sarah Ourahmoune of France. Park is hoping
to have a rematch with Sarah as well as gold medalist ChenYing of
China who she fought in Turkey in June.
Park felt the tournament in China was very well organized and a
great experience overall. “We had an amazing team in China and I was
proud to be part of that!” On her experiences at international
tournaments Park stated: “I know a few of the athletes from other
countries because of all the international tournaments I’ve
attended. I always make an effort to connect with as many other
athletes and coaches as I can once the competition is over. Those
memories last forever.”
Jacqueline is happy
about the level of competition at the international tournaments.
Park stated “the competition definitely gets better every year and
this year the worlds had the highest country and athlete entries
ever.” In addition, she is pleased with the addition of the extra
round which started in 2009. Park is not going to turn pro in the
near future -- instead she wants to focus on national and
international tournaments and the next World Championships in 2010.
