“If you can do it, then do it. Male and female are just biological genders. Only you can decide what mindset you bring into the competition.”
In the super-macho world of boxing, she was once the only girl on the team. Chen Nien-Chin left her hometown for Taiwan on her own when she was 13 to train in boxing, and has pulled through verbal bullying and the defeat in the Olympics. Not one to be limited by gender stereotypes and limitations, Chen usually trains with male boxers who hit harder and faster. Now, one decade later, Chen Nien-Chin returns to the Olympics with the force of a queen.
Eyes locked onto her opponent, the “Boxing Queen” Chen Nien-Chin launches a series of fast and accurate punches as she trains hard in the National Sports Training Center in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old boxer currently ranks world number two in the welterweight division, and is the first female boxer in Taiwan to take part in international boxing competitions. Chen is a seasoned Pangcah war goddess with many awards under her belt: she has won gold at the World Boxing Championships and took part in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Chen Nien-Chin is a member of the Pangcah community in Hualien. When she was two, her parents moved the family to Matsu where she later joined the Matsu wrestling team when she was in elementary school. The team visited Taiwan for offsite training during her 7th grade summer break, and her relatives introduced her to boxing coach Ko Wen-Ming. They talked about learning boxing in Taiwan. “I thought we were just going to meet somebody. But when I came back to Matsu, suddenly we had to call a family meeting!” Chen said with a laugh.
Alone in Taiwan and Gaining Support
with Her Boxing Accomplishments
While her parents had second thoughts about leaving their young daughter to fend for herself in Taiwan, Chen, who had no prior experience in boxing, agreed to the proposal immediately. “In my mind, it was all very simple. I just wanted to see the world outside of Matsu, and I didn’t care what I was going to do.” When she first arrived in Taiwan, curiosity won over everything. Every day was new and interesting. However, Chen soon felt overwhelmed by homesickness and the strict training regime. For two whole months, Chen Nien-Chin called her father everyday as she cried on the phone. Her father always responded, “this is the path you chose, and even if you think it was a mistake, you have to figure out a way to pull through.”
In addition to the loneliness, Chen Nien-Chin also had to endure the enmity from seniors on the boxing team. “Very few girls boxed, so they thought having girls on the team was weird. Everyone who saw me would think, ‘why is she here?’” Chen recalled back then the male seniors would say things like, “what’s a girl doing here boxing?”, “go back to Matsu”, “come here and let us beat you up”. She trained with tears in her eyes until one day she realized, “there’s no alternative anyway, I have to grit my teeth and keep on going. One day when I finally make it, you are all going to shut up!”
Chen Nien-Chin was extremely committed and practiced very hard. She entered her first competition in 8th grade and won first place in the National Presidents Cup Boxing Championships. In 2013, she took part in her first international competition and won the first gold for Taiwan in the Youth and Junior World Boxing Championships. Her accomplishments attracted much attention and also won over the support of her seniors.
Fearlessly
Accepting Harder Challenges
Yet Chen Nien-Chin has to work harder than other athletes for these outstanding results. Very few Taiwanese boxers compete in the middleweight division since Taiwanese athletes are more on the slender side. Chen, who began her professional career in the middleweight division, admitted, “I picked an extremely difficult division to conquer. The tallest opponent I’ve ever faced was 192 cm tall, and I had to jump up to launch my attacks.”
Chen Nien-Chin always spars with male athletes. She trains for speed with junior flyweight male boxers and for strength with light heavyweight boxers. “We indigenous people are also very tough. I never considered myself as ‘a girl’, and this has worked very well for me during competitions.” she said brightly. For Chen, a female body has never been a limitation. “If you can do it, then do it. Male and female are just biological genders. Only you can decide what mindset you bring into the competition.”
Chen eventually made it to world number eight in the middleweight division. In 2018, AIBA added the welterweight class (69 kg) for women, and her coach suggested that Chen switch over to that weight class for a better advantage. After mulling over it for three to four months, Chen decided to do it. “I thought it would be a cool challenge to start over again. If I could win in both weight classes, that would mean I’m really good!” she added with her trademark grin.
Overcoming the Olympics Setback
and Coming Back Again in Full Force
Although Chen Nien-Chin has a very resilient mind, she has encountered a couple of setbacks as well. Four years ago, she won a spot on the Olympics team, and traveled to Rio to compete. Everyone thought she would win; however, the event would bring forth the greatest defeat in her athletic career.
Chen Nien-Chin had no equal opponent to spar with in Taiwan, and women’s boxing has only been held in the Olympics for the second time. Chen could only go with her instincts on how to behave and adapt at this world’s largest sports event. “That’s when I realized that the World Championships and the Olympics are two totally different things.” Chen gestured. She was shocked. “Everyone improved so much within a couple of months. I was terrified.” In the end, Chen Nien-Chin was eliminated at the round of 16.
After the stumble at the Olympics, Chen barely had time to collect herself for the World University Boxing Championships two weeks later. The large amount of stress distracted Chen and she performed badly during training. “The coach said to me, ‘if you get beaten up again today, leave!’ When I heard he say ‘leave’," recalled Chen Nien-Chin, “I left the training session before it ended. Everyone thought I just needed to go to the ladies’ room, but I turned off my mobile phone and disappeared.”
“And for the following five days, I became ‘the wandering Nien-Chin’.” She said with a laugh. She hid at a friend's house, and no one knew where she was. In the end it was her father who made her come around with a phone call. “He said that he is dedicated to training me to become the best, sending me to the best training venue and best coach. But now I just leave them all behind? Is the Rio Olympics the only Olympic games? It’s okay to fail. An athlete will always feel pressure, and I must learn to deal it.”
Her father’s words knocked some sense into Chen Nien-Chin. With the determination to “not be defeated”, she returned to the competition arena and successfully won gold. The experience completely changed her. “I enjoy the growth and momentum after the downs. It takes a lot of work to climb back up from the bottom, but the process can let you grow significantly in a short time. It feels very cool!”
Fearless of Defeat
and Soldiering On
Chen Nien-Chin describes herself as a “hyped” type of athlete. She’s always excited to get onto the podium, and feels happy more than nervous. She has moved on from the setback at Rio and can’t wait to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
Boxing has taught her many lessons on life and made her strong and independent. “On the podium, you have to overcome any problem you encounter.” Chen Nien-Chin said confidently. If you are knocked down, just get back on your feet again. Don’t give up easily. “It’s even more interesting when you start from zero. When you have nothing, that is the beginning to success.”
The girl who came alone to Taiwan has found a home in boxing. Chen Nien-Chin now spearheads the development of women's boxing in Taiwan. She hopes to use her influence to let the public know that boxing is not simply an act of violence, but a professional sport that requires skill and training. Undaunted by challenges and continuously breaking through limitations, she has won round after round for herself and for Taiwan.
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