Shrewsbury boxer Mary-Kate Smith sets sights on Commonwealth Games gold

Shrewsbury boxer Mary-Kate Smith heads to the Commonwealth Games with one goal in mind - bringing home a gold medal for her family.

The 20-year-old is one of 14 boxers selected to represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow over the next week.

Competing in the women’s 75kg middleweight division, the Shrewsbury-born fighter has been training in Scotland ahead of her opening bout and has her sights firmly set on standing on top of the podium.

“It’s so exciting, it’s all I’ve ever dreamed of, every training session has led up to this moment,” Smith told the Shropshire Star.

“I’m ready to go. I’m feeling sharp, I’m feeling fit and, most importantly, I’m feeling focused.

“I’ve got my mind on the task at hand and my only goal is to come back with that gold medal and bring it back to my family. That’s the plan.”

Smith discovered her first opponent in Thursday’s draw and will face Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata in the quarter-finals.

Her boxing journey began at a young age, learning her trade at local clubs including the Shrewsbury School of Boxing before having her first competitive bouts at Telford Amateur Boxing Club.

The England squad, made up of seven women and seven men, has progressed through the England Boxing Performance Pathway before earning places on the GB Boxing World Class Programme in Sheffield.

Smith will hope to help extend England’s record as the most successful boxing nation in Commonwealth Games history.

Like all of England’s boxers, she will be making her Commonwealth Games debut and is determined to make an impression.

Although Smith is now based in Warrington, she will have plenty of support from home, with family and friends in Shropshire cheering her on and several making the trip to Scotland to watch ringside.

“Being selected was one of the best feelings ever,” she said. “It’s massive, isn’t it? Suddenly there are so many eyes on you.

“I can’t really explain how it felt to be selected, but it was such a proud moment for me.

“I think it was a really big moment for my family as well. I just felt incredibly proud.”

The Games return to Glasgow, where women’s boxing made its Commonwealth debut in 2014.

Smith has spent the week preparing alongside her England team-mates while soaking up the unique atmosphere of the athletes’ village.

“It’s been great,” she said. “We got here on Wednesday and had our first full day on Thursday. We did two training sessions.

“The athletes’ village is brilliant. You see all the different teams and all the different sports. It’s really good.

“It’s a great atmosphere and a really positive environment. I can’t wait.”

Commonwealth Games boxing bouts are contested over three rounds of three minutes, with one-minute intervals between rounds.

Five judges score each contest using the 10-point must system. The boxer with the highest score at the end of the bout is declared the winner unless the contest is ended by a knockout.