The women’s world boxing championship scheduled next month in Turkey is all set to be postponed due to the high number of COVID-19 cases being registered in the country, a spokesperson of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) told PTI on Tuesday. The decision to postpone the championships could be announced anytime this week. 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.
“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 event could be held in the first half of next year. Kremlev has stated that if postponed, the championship could be held in March next year.
Turkey logged 27,824 COVID cases on Monday.
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 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.
However, a postponement would, in all likelihood, force trial bouts across weight categories. For the first time ever, the AIBA announced a prize money fund of USD 2.4 million for medal winners across 12 weight categories. 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 organisation will be announced.
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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.
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