The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has revealed that India will host the Women's and Men's Asian Boxing Championships in November-December. The BFI also expressed confidence that by then the COVID-19 pandemic would have been completely under control. India last hosted the Men's Asian Championship in Mumbai in 1980, while the Women's Championship was hosted in 2003 in Hisar. Since last year, the men's and women's categories competed in the tournament simultaneously.
BFI Executive Director RK Sacheti said, "We were given the hosting rights in February after the Asian Boxing Confederation meeting. The tournament will be held in November-December and the host city will be decided after things return to normal. There is no doubt that this is an extraordinary situation, but we hope that it will be controlled by June. After that it will take three to four months to start normal activities."
This competition is usually held once in two years but in the past it has also been held in consecutive years. Sacheti said, "The bid was sought in January. The Asian Boxing federation will make a formal announcement after the COVID-19 situation is slightly improved."
So far in India more than 300 people have lost their lives due to Coronavirus infection. Sacheti said, "The window we have put in place for the championship will give us time to plan. According to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Olympic qualification program will also start around November-December. '
