Boxing: From dancer to boxer

Siona Fernandes has emerged as a candidate for flyweight selection at London's Olympics next year. Photo / Doug Sherring

Siona Fernandes has two distinct personalities. One is the petite, calm, smiley, graceful girl from Goa who moved to New Zealand as a traditional Indian dancer. The other one punches people.

It's hard to imagine them living in the same body, yet Fernandes doesn't consider them to be that different. The ancient art of bharatanatyam is a 'fire dance' made up of classical feminine movements, but also with a masculine influence. Fernandes (29) brings both those elements to her new passion where she has quickly emerged as a candidate for flyweight selection when women's boxing debuts at London's Olympics next year.

"Most Goans are very westernised and don't really embrace Indian culture," she says. "But my mother had me dancing at the age of seven, every day except Sundays for the next 17 years. It definitely translates in terms of footwork, agility, stamina and balance. They say boxing is a relaxed form of aggression and the more relaxed you are, the more you see in the ring."

According to trainer Chris Martin, that focus is exactly the quality that has carried her so far in her short time within the ropes. At last month's national championships, Fernandes captured her first title in the 51kg flyweight division and was named 'most scientific' of the elite female fighters.

"Genetically, she's generally fit and very strong for that weight," says Martin. "But boxers come in all different shapes and sizes. As a trainer, you have to figure out what makes them tick and then adapt things to their natural abilities. Siona can think her way through situations and process things herself."

Fernandes left Goa, a former Portuguese colony in southwest India, to study psychology at Bangalore University and then moved to New Zealand when her father found a job with the Counties Manukau District Health Board. About two years ago, she was drawn into a boxing class at Les Mills World of Fitness.

"I wanted to do something that I didn't think I would be good at - something different, a challenge. I didn't have to be good at it, I just wanted to give it a go with no pressure. But suddenly I found myself punching bags as hard as I could and I loved it." In one of her first competitive fights, Fernandes won a national trial that saw her chosen for the 2010 women's world championships in Barbados.

She lost to eventual bronze medallist Nemedi-Varga of Hungary in the second round of 54kg competition. Since then, she's captured a silver medal at this year's Arafura Games in Darwin and lost to the eventual winner in the second round of the China Open.

Dropping to the flyweight class means Fernandes, even at 1.63m, is often taller than her opponents and can dominate them physically.

"Siona's really taken to things quickly and achieved a heck of a lot in the short time she's been boxing," says Martin. "That scientific award shows her performances were far more technical and she shone above everyone else skill-wise."

The exact path Fernandes must travel to London is sketchy. Women will contest three weight categories at the Olympics - flyweight (51kg), lightweight (60kg) and middleweight (75kg). The quickest and most obvious route would be a top eight finish at next year's world championships in May/June. While the men can also earn selection through continental qualifying events, the women's criteria is still being decided.

So, right now, all eyes are on the world championships: "It's not going to be easy," says Boxing New Zealand chairman and high performance manager John McKay. "It's a hard format, but Siona is a good competitor - quite strong with good boxing skills."