The Championships, which will take place in Qinhuangdao from May 11 until 20, will see the best female fighters compete in the three weight categories of flyweight (51kg), lightweight (60kg) and middleweight (75kg), with the top eight in each weight likely to go to the Olympics along with an additional four wildcard places that are chosen by AIBA.

However, to ensure automatic qualification for London 2012, all three British women will need to make the semi-finals or be among the last four Europeans in the quarterfinals of their category at the event.

Flyweight Adams (pictured) is likely to be Britain's biggest gold medal contender in China after the 29-year-old from Leeds claimed gold at the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam last October to add to the two World Championship silver medals she won in 2008 and 2010.

Meanwhile, lightweight Jonas proved her class as the 27-year-old from Liverpool won bronze at the 2011 European Championships.


Middleweight Marshall (pictured) also won bronze at the 2011 European Championships and the 30-year-old from Hartlepool also boasts a silver medal from the 2010 World Championships.

The boxers who qualify will make history as women's boxing will make its official debut on the Olympic programme after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include the sport at their session in Copenhagen in 2009.

"The female squad has made great progress in the last two years," said GB Boxing's performance director Rob McCracken.

"The women have gained a lot of experience and have a track record of winning medals at international competitions.

"The World Championships will be a tough tournament but as long as the women maintain their form and box to their full potential then we should see some qualifiers for London."

Although Adams and Marshall were always heavily tipped to make the team for China, Jonas only narrowly got the vote over Chantelle Cameron from Northampton and Hartlepool's Amanda Coulson after a series of impressive international performances in the last six months.

Her bronze medal at the 2011 European Championships came just before she won gold in last November's London 2012 test event in London, where she overcame boxers ranked two, four and seven in the world en-route to victory.

"Nicola and Savannah won silver medals at the last World Championships (in 2010) and Natasha has secured the berth at lightweight after some very good performances in the last few months which just gave her the edge over two excellent boxers in Amanda and Chantelle," added McCracken.


Jonas (pictured) admitted she was delighted to make the team for the World Championships and therefore have the opportunity to qualify for London 2012.

"Just winning the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics, ahead of two superb boxers like Amanda and Chantelle, is a great achievement but the challenge now is to do well at the World Championships and make sure I earn a place to compete at London," she said.

Lisa Whiteside from Lancashire has been selected by the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) to compete for England in the featherweight (57kg) category and will travel with the Great Britain squad to the World Championships.

However, the featherweight category will not feature in the women's Olympic boxing competition at London 2012.

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