BFI postpones India Open boxing tourney

According to BFI executive director Raj Kumar Sacheti, the event was postponed due to lack of enough overseas entries.

Published : Jan 16, 2019 20:15 IST

Representative Image: The event was scheduled to be held in Guwahati from February 5 to 9.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has postponed the India Open boxing tournament, which was scheduled to be held at Guwahati from February 5 to 9.

According to BFI executive director Raj Kumar Sacheti, the event was postponed due to lack of enough overseas entries. “Due to the prevailing situation in Assam, several countries did not send their entries. We had entries from only 10 countries and there was no point holding the event on a small scale,” Sacheti said.

The BFI had started the event last year with an aim to give international exposure to Indian boxers, who were fielded in various teams. Boxers from 28 countries had participated in the inaugural edition held in Delhi.

“Now, it is likely to be held in May,” said Sacheti.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Ali Qamar, the first-ever Indian to win a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, has replaced Shiv Singh as the chief coach of National women’s boxing team.