Lausanne: The Women’s boxing World Championships slated for next month in Turkey has been deferred owing to a high number of Covid-19 cases in the country, according to a spokesperson of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
The move to defer the championships might be made this week. The tournament was tentatively scheduled to take place in Istanbul from December 4 to December 18. “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 on Tuesday.
“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 may take place in the first half of next year. If the tournament is deferred, Kremlev has said that it might be held in March of the following year. On Monday, Turkey recorded 27,824 COVID instances. The government also recorded 187 deaths on the same day as a result of the deadly sickness that has been wreaking havoc for the last two years. The delta version of the virus has been blamed for the increase in infections.
With the exception of the 70kg class, where Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain has been awarded direct selection, India was to be represented by the incumbent national champions in all weight categories. Arundhati Choudhary, a national gold medalist and global youth champion, has challenged her direct selection in the Delhi High Court. A delay, on the other hand, would almost certainly need trial fights across weight classes.
While the men’s world championship was recently held in Belgrade, and supporters were allowed inside the arena. The tournament went ahead without a hitch, as India took home one bronze medal.
