Last Updated: February 24, 2023, 21:39 IST
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) just isn’t disheartened by the rising quantity of international locations boycotting the Women’s World Championship and has opened a dialogue with these nations to get them to reverse their determination.
International Boxing Association’s (IBA) determination to carry the ban on Russian and Belarusian boxers, permitting them to compete beneath their very own flag, towards the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) suggestions due to the continuing battle in Ukraine, has led to 9 international locations boycotting the marquee occasion scheduled in New Delhi on March 15-26.
The international locations embody USA, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, Czech Republic and Ukraine.
“I don’t know why we should always even suppose that it’s disheartening as a result of we’ve got 74 international locations which might be coming in. Just a only a few international locations have pulled out,” BFI executive director Col Arun Malik told PTI.
“We have international locations like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, they’re the strongest nations of the world, they’re all coming.
“I don’t think we have any reason to get disheartened. It’s a very good response, the numbers are bigger than they were in Istanbul, the countries are more.”
Seven Olympic medallists are amongst 350 boxers from 74 international locations who’ve up to now registered their names for the biennial showpiece.
The BFI, on it’s half, has initiated a dialogue with six of the boycotting international locations and is hopeful that they some of them will reverse their determination to skip the match in Delhi.
“We have written to six international locations which have pulled out. They are open to speaking to the President Mr Ajay Singh. We don’t know at what degree the choice has been taken by them, if the nationwide federation has taken it or the choice is taken by the federal government.
“But the endeavour is there to get some of these international locations if not all to take part,” Malik added.
The national federation is also in talks with IBA.
The recent events have put India in a difficult situation as a host nation.
“Even when we are interacting, some people have mentioned they would love to play in India, love their athletes to come to India and box here.
“The exposure the Indian boxers can offer, they will not get anywhere else. We have one of the strongest women boxing team in India.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
