India to host women’s World Boxing Championships next year - BFI

It will be the third time that the elite women’s boxing competition will be held in the country. IBA president Umar Kremlev is on his maiden visit to India and the dates of the marquee event will be finalised during his trip.

BFI Secretary General Hemanta Kalita (extreme left), BFI President Ajay Singh (third from left), International Boxing Association (IBA) president Umar Kremlev (centre) and reigning women’s flyweight world champion Nikhat Zareen (third from right) at a press conference where New Delhi was declared as host of the 2023 Women’s World Boxing Championships. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The gold medallists will be awarded $100,000 in the next Women’s World Boxing championship to be staged here in the Capital next year.

The president of the international Boxing Association (IBA) Umar Kremlev and the president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), Ajay Singh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday, to seal the deal.

The reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen was also present and said that she was “super excited” about the chance to defend her title at home.

ALSO READ - Primary goal is to bring success and pride to India in Paris 2024 - Bernard Dunne

“Hosting an event of this stature is prestigious and inspires millions of young girls. The countdown has already begun and I am looking forward to defending my title here in Delhi”, said Nikhat.

Addressing the media, the IBA president said that he was happy with the maiden visit to India.

“India is very passionate about boxing. Conducting the World Championship here will be the perfect opportunity to celebrate the innumerable victories as well as inspire many more women to take up the sport. BFI has worked efficiently to develop boxing in the region. I am sure they will stage an event to remember”, said Kremlev.

The World Championship will have a total prize purse of $2.4 million. “We are delighted with the chance to host the World Championship. A tournament of this stature helps empower women in India, giving them the belief to take up sports”, said Ajay Singh, even as he praised the dynamic leadership of Kremlev in “taking boxing to the next level”.

India had hosted the Women’s World Championship twice earlier in 2006 and 2018, apart from the Women’s Youth World Championship in 2017.

Indian women have clinched 39 medals in the World Championship including 10 gold. Mary Kom herself has won six gold, a silver and a bronze in her glittering career.