BESS Slater’s decorated boxing resume is set to expand with the Warrnambool fighter selected as an assistant coach at a major international female tournament.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Slater has been hand-picked as an assistant to Boxing Australia coach Kevin Smith for the World Women’s Youth Boxing Championships in India in November.
Her first step onto the international boxing scene came in January after she travelled to the Philippines to coach at training camp with the national body.
Slater was also the only female assistant coach in the Victorian team which tackled the Underage National Championships in April.
But the fighter-turned-coach expected her venture to India to be the toughest test of her mentoring career.
“This time, I’ll be in the corner with the athletes. I’m going along with some top coaches and it’ll be great to watch them and learn,” Slater said.
“I’ll help them in making weight, and other things like that. I guess my role as a coach is to make them feel as comfortable as possible away from home.
“I’ll be working with young athletes who mightn’t be away from home all that often, so it’s about getting them comfortable and ready to fight in a short time.”
Slater said she hadn’t originally listed India as a “bucket list destination” but was delighted to be awarded the opportunity.
She hoped to bring several good qualities to the team from her experience working with young female fighters.
“It wasn’t somewhere I thought boxing would ever take me,” she said.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity. I’m very lucky in my job (Lifeline) that they’re supportive and let me have the time to pursue these opportunities.
“I know the girls I’m going with quite well, as I’ve travelled with them to state competitions.”
The World Women’s Youth Boxing Championships will take place from November 19 to 26 on the subcontinent.