BOXING: Australians have been handed several tough draws at the Women’s Boxing World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, which begin Thursday in Kazakhstan.

Australia’s Kristy Harris and Caitlin Parker are hoping to finish top four in their weight divisions in Astana, which will earn them the right to join Commonwealth Games gold medallist Shelley Watts on the Olympic team.

Watts qualified by making the final of the 60kg division at the Asian and Oceania qualifiers in China earlier this year.

There are only three weight divisions for women at the Olympic Games, with Melbourne’s Harris hoping to qualify in the 51kg division, and Perth’s Parker aiming for glory in the 75kg division.

Harris has the toughest draw of the two boxers, taking on Sri Lanka’s Anusha Koddithuwakku in a first round bout on Thursday night, Australian time, with the winner to take on second seed Elena Saveleva of Russia.

Parker has a first round bye and will take on local hope, eighth seed Violleta Knyazeva, in a second round bout on Friday night.

Australia has six other boxers competing in non-Olympic weight divisions at the World Championships, including Commonwealth Games team member, Kaye Scott, in the 81kg category.

Ross Solly for Boxing Australia