Boxers Lai Chu-en (left) and Chen Nien-chin.

Taiwan will compete in the boxing events at the Summer Olympics for the first time in 20 years, sending two boxers this year to Rio.

Lai Chu-en (賴主恩) and Chen Nien-chin (陳念琴) are two fresh faces on the international boxing scene.

Chen Nien-chin. (CNA file photo)

Chen, 19, the first ever female Taiwanese boxer to qualify for the Olympics, will compete in the women's 75-kilogram division.

"I never thought (I) could be so close to the Olympics," said Chen, who secured a berth after winning a bronze medal at the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan in May.

Lai Chu-en. (File photo courtesy of National Nei-Pu Senior Agricultural-Industrial Vocational High School)

Meanwhile, Lai, who turned 20 in July, will compete in the men's 60-kg category.

He is a member of the aboriginal Paiwan tribe and is Taiwan's first Olympic male boxer since 1996.

Lai said he plans to go forward bravely, leaving everything to God.

(By Lee Yu-cheng and Kay Liu)
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