Nicola Adams makes her Olympic debut on Monday and is confident she can advance to the semi finals of the women’s flyweight boxing competition.

The 29-year-old, who boxes out of Haringey Police Community Club, will take on the winner of Sunday’s bout between Bulgaria’s Stoyka Petrova and Siona Fernandes of New Zealand having received a bye through the round of 16.

And the Leeds-based fighter said she will be in confident mood when she enters the ring on Monday.

“You have got to be in this game,” she explained.

“I haven’t boxed the New Zealander before but I have boxed the Bulgarian. I think the Bulgarian might just edge it (against Fernandes). She is a good boxer and a smart fighter. It will be a tough contest.”

Adams has proven her pedigree over a number of years having won three consecutive silver medals at the World Championships as well as European Championship gold last year.

This will be the first time she has had the chance to compete at Olympic level however, following an IOC ruling in 2009 which sees women’s boxing making its first appearance at the Games in London 2012.

She continued: “I always thought that hopefully women’s boxing would be part of the Olympics. It is every athlete’s dream to be in the Olympics and hopefully get a medal.

“When the announcement was made I was over the moon because it is in London so all of my friends and family will be here. I just think it is a great opportunity to be here and be competing.”

And with a good record behind her, there is plenty of focus on Adams right now in the build up to the first women’s fights on Sunday.

“To be honest I haven’t really thought about it that much,” she added. “It is just a sport that I love doing.

“I think it is nice in a way to get a bit of recognition for the years that I have been training and to think that kids will have somebody to look up to when they get into the boxing gym, because it is nice to have someone to look up to.

“I used to look up to Muhammad Ali and to think they will have a female to look up to as well is a great feeling.”

Adams is one of three female boxers in Team GB at London 2012, joining lightweight Natasha Jones and middleweight Savannah Marshall in the squad.

It is a new environment for the trio but Adams revealed they are enjoying the experience and glad to be a part of the event.

She said: “It has been a fantastic experience so far. The Opening Ceremony was unbelievable, just walking into the stadium and seeing all of the lights and all of the people cheering, it is so hard to put into words how I was feeling.

“A couple of days ago I met Usain Bolt and it is fantastic to be around all of these top athletes. I think all three of us are taking it in our stride and just enjoying the moment.”