New Delhi, July 25:
In a historic first for Indian boxing, the country will host the men’s World Championship for the first time in 2021 besides next year’s women’s World Championship, shaking off the last remnants of administrative turmoil that once plagued the sport.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) made the groundbreaking announcement for India at the end of its two- day executive committee meeting in Moscow. Expectedly, the Indian boxing fraternity reacted with elation and hoped it would herald a new era for the sport.
“… We are delighted to have the AIBA Men’s World Championships 2019 confirmed for Sochi, and equally excited to announce New Delhi as host city in 2021 as the Boxing Federation of India continues to show its commitment to developing the sport,” AIBA President Dr Ching Kuo Wu said in a statement.
“Following the presentation of the Turkish Boxing Federation, I know that Trabzon will also meet the demands of hosting the world’s biggest women’s boxing tournament in 2019,” he added.
India has never conducted the men’s World Championship but has played host to the 2006 women’s mega-event. The major men’s boxing events hosted by India have been the 1990 World Cup in Mumbai and the 2010 Commonwealth Championships in New Delhi.
“It is the first time ever that a country has been awarded two major Championships, that too back to back. The presentation made by us was adjudged the best by AIBA President,” Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh said. (PTI)
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