By Tom Reynolds

BLACKHEATH boxer Ruth Raper admits she is currently happy to be in the background of the British team but insists she will be in the foreground come the London 2012 Olympics.

The 20-year-old was named on Britain’s first ever elite female squad in March following the IOC’s decision to officially include women’s boxing onto the Olympic programme last summer.

Progress has been slow and steady for lightweight Raper since and with only one Englishwoman per weight category chosen to compete at September's World Championships she missed out.

With two years to go until the London 2012 Olympics Raper is content with where she stands at the moment but insists that won’t be case the closer the home Games get.

“To be honest I knew when we first got selected for Britain that I wouldn’t be going to the World Championships because the other 60kg girls have a lot more experience than me,” said Raper.

“Really I never expected to be going, I have just been thinking that I have got to get as ready as I can for the smaller tournaments so that I can impress people in those.

“That way I can hopefully be ready for the bigger tournaments like the European Championships next year and then slowly, slowly get ready for 2012.

“I need to be realistic about my aims but as well I think you have got to set your sights high and you can never ever think ‘oh well I won’t be going there, I am not expected to go there’.

“Two years is not a long time and I know I have got a lot of space in experience to make up but I have just got to go for it. You have got to aim for everything that you can get your hands on.”

Hartlepool’s Amanda Coulson pipped not only Raper but also Natasha Jones to sole lightweight spot at the World Championships in Barbados, which saw Britain return home with two medals.

Flyweight Nicola Adams and middleweight Savannah Marshall both claimed silver and Raper, who fights for Lynn AC, insists their success can only benefit her own medal ambitions.

“In the next two years I have just got to get as much experience as I can, train as hard as I can and learn as much as I can from the other girls in the GB squad,” she added.

“I see people like Nicola and Savannah training when we are up at our base in Sheffield and it just shows you that if they can do it, why can’t you? You have just got to put the work in.”

Visa is proud to be Presenting Partner of Team 2012, a team of 1,200 athletes across the UK who are aiming to compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For more information, visit lifeflowsbetter.com