EMMA McCULLOCH is not giving up on her Commonwealth Games dream despite missing out on selection for the Gold Coast.

The talented Lochgelly boxer was hoping to be in the mix for a place on the Team Scotland plane next year after a superb year that saw her retain her Scottish female light flyweight title.

On St Andrew's Day, the nine-strong boxing team heading for Australia was named, with Vicky Glover being the first – and sole – female to be chosen by Scotland.

Glover, who boxes at 57kg, was the British champion last year and recently returned from the World Youth Championships in India, narrowly missing out on a medal by a split decision.

Glenrothes Boxing Club star Emma on the other hand won gold at the prestigious Golden Girl Championship – Europe's largest female tournament – in February, the Celtic Box Cup and competed in her first international with Scotland at the Women's Silesian International Tournament.

She also defeated Haringey Box Cup winner Miriam Zouhou – as the Times reported last week – at a St Andrew's night ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) show between a Scottish and English select in aid of the Ken Buchanan Foundation.

But, rather than being down at missing out on the Games, Emma, 25, congratulated the successful Glover and vowed that her "time will come".

"Most of the senior women were aware that it was unlikely that more than one woman would be selected for Scotland," she told Times Sport.

"I also had an idea that they wouldn't take a 48kg woman. It was stated that 3-4 women were in the mix for selection, however they have went with a girl (57kg) who just missed out on a medal at the World Youth Championships last month, so she deserves a place I'm sure!

"Of course I would have loved to have been selected but my boxing career has been such a whirlwind, I'm sure my time will come. I've already achieved so much and I'm stepping it up this season.

"It's been a busy but positive three months of boxing. We are now looking at the Golden Girl in February for our next tournament; winning gold at the last Golden Girl was one of my best achievements so far, so I'll be looking to replicate it.

"The standard of boxing is high so I'm looking forward to it and the rest of the season."

On her most recent victory Emma, who is sponsored by Lochgelly's Tom Harrower, added: "Each boxer was matched really well and I got to box Miriam Zouhou, a girl I’ve watched previously at the British and Haringey but have missed her in competition.

"She can be quite tricky as she has a longer reach and likes to move around the ring a lot! The plan was to stay in the centre of the ring and edge in using my power. It worked well and I got the unanimous decision after giving her a standing eight count in the second round.

"I boxed two weeks prior to this in Newcastle but unfortunately I’d been floored with the flu earlier on that week. I managed to get the win but I was glad to get back to feeling fully fit last week."