AIBA women's world boxing championship to be postponed due to Covid-19

Due to a large number of Covid-19 cases the women's world boxing championship is scheduled for next month in Turkey. The match is postponed now. A spokesperson of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) told PTI on Tuesday.

The boxing Association can announce the decision to postpone the women's world boxing championship anytime.

The tournament was tentatively planned from December 4 to 18 in Istanbul. "It is highly likely that the world championship would be postponed as many countries have expressed reservations about travelling to Turkey because of the Covid cases there," an AIBA spokesperson told PTI in a telephonic conversation.

Also read: Asian Boxing Championship Winners: All The Winners From AABC 2021

"You can say, it is more or less decided, the postponement. There has already been a round-table on this involving AIBA President Umar Kremlev during which several countries have expressed their apprehension. A decision on this will be announced very soon this week. We don't want a depleted field because of the pandemic," the spokesperson added.

The country also reported 187 deaths on the day because of the deadly infection that has wreaked havoc for the past two years. The surge in cases has been attributed to the delta variant of the virus.

India was to be represented by the reigning national champions in all weight categories except for the 70kg division in which Olympic bronze-medallist Lovlina Borgohain has been given direct selection. Her direct selection has been opposed by national gold-winner and world youth champion Arundhati Choudhary, who has taken the matter to Delhi High Court.

Award distribution management

The prize for first place has been kept USD 100 000. The silver-medallists would receive USD 50,000 and both bronze winners in each weight category would be richer by USD 25,000.

The world body had also announced that AIBA Extraordinary Congress would be held during the championships, and major reforms of the organization will be announced. In July, AIBA increased the women's weight categories from 10 to 12.

The new divisions are 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg, and +81kg. The world body recently conducted the men's world championship in Belgrade and even welcomed fans into the arena. The event passed off without any disruption and India ended with one bronze medal.