Leading article: Striking a blow

Golf, rugby, women's boxing. Do these sound like Olympic sports to you?

Many will cite powerful reasons why the first two do not and will argue that the International Olympic Committee's decision yesterday to open the door to them in 2016 was misguided. But we would argue that women's boxing – which has been given the green light for the 2012 Games – fits the Olympic spirit like a comfortable mitt. For a start, the sport is growing impressively and is practised across 120 countries.

In 2005, 50 female boxers were registered in England; now there are 650. The exposure the Olympics will give the sport could push it to a whole new level of popularity. Most importantly, the amateur status of women's boxing means a spot at the top of the Olympic podium would become the summit of the sporting ambition of the participants. That sort of glory is the lifeblood of the Olympics. So let the 2012 Games be not only swifter, higher, stronger – but punchier too.