Tuesday 7 November 2017 10:26, UK
Aspiring sportswomen dominate the shortlist for the prestigious Sports Aid One-to-Watch award.
Aged between 15 and 20, seven of the 10 athletes in the running for the accolade - to be presented at Sports Aid's SportsBall on November 23 - are female.
One of them is 16-year-old Caroline Dubois, the younger sister of emerging heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois. Caroline has dazzled in the ring this year, winning 60kg British and European Youth gold medals.
"I feel privileged that people recognised my talent and skill, showing it was worthy of a nomination," she said.
"It's nice to be recognised for all the hard work I put in. I've achieved a lot this year, and not just this year, but last year as well.
"It's all coming together because I won the Europeans again. I'm a two-time European champion now which hadn't been done by a female boxer for a long time."
Since its formation in 1976, SportsAid has supported tens of thousands of athletes during the critical early stages of their careers, with Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Sarah Storey, Steve Redgrave and Katherine Grainger among its extensive alumni.
Dubois added: "I've got lots of support from my dad who's been training me and putting in work outside my boxing club.
"The SportsAid funding has helped massively because this year has been so busy. I've had camps all the way up in Warrington and Sheffield so it's helped me get to those areas.
"Sometimes my dad's not around to take me because I've got brothers who box as well so he can't take all of us."
The other female athletes shortlisted for the award are Beth Shriever (cycling) , Finette Agyapong (athletics), Holly Dunford (rowing), Kate Waugh (triathlon) Lauren Hemp (football) and Lily May Humphreys (golf).
The male contenders are Calvin Tarczy (rowing), Charlie Smith (canoeing) and Craig Boardman (para athletics).
Previous winners of the One-to-watch award include Tom Daley and Paralympic javelin gold medallist Hollie Arnold.
