BOXING Preview: Women’s World Champs start in New Delhi

Ten days of boxing will decide the women’s World Champions for 2018 as the 10th edition of the women’s championships take place in New Delhi (IND) through the 24th, at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex.

Olympic boxing for women is in its infancy, with just three weights at the 2016 Rio Games, but this will be increased to five for Tokyo in 2020. At the last women’s Worlds in Astana (KAZ) in 2016, there were 10 weight classes; the finalists:

48 kg:
1. Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ)
2. Yuyan Wang (CHN)

51 kg:
1. Nicola Adams (GBR)
2. Peamwilai Laopeam (THA)

54 kg:
1. Dina Zholaman (KAZ)
2. Stoyka Petrova (BUL)

57 kg:
1. Alessia Mesiano (ITA)
2. Sonia Lather (IND)

60 kg:
1. Estelle Mossely (FRA)
2. Anastasiia Beliakova (RUS)

64 kg:
1. Wenlu Yang (CHN)
2. Kellie Harrington (IRL)

69 kg:
1. Valentina Khalzova (KAZ)
2. Hong Gu (CHN)

75 kg:
1. Claressa Shields (USA)
2. Nouchka Fontijn (NED)

81 kg:
1. Xiaoli Yang (CHN)
2. Kate Scott (AUS)

+81 kg:
1. Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ)
2. Shadasia Green (USA)

There are 277 boxers from 62 countries registered for New Delhi; please note that the 2020 Olympic classes will be at 51-57-60-69-75 kg. In Rio, Adams won at 51 kg; Mossely at 60 kg and Shields at 75 kg; all three are not in New Delhi and are boxing professionally.

Look for draw sheets and results here. In a procedure that simply confuses matters, AIBA has seeded athletes in some of the weight classes, but not all.

The Kosovo situation that caused an uproar at the World Karate Championships in Madrid is also an issue in New Delhi. India does not have diplomatic relations with Kososo and did not allow Donjeta Sadiku an entry visa to compete at 60 kg. The AIBA statement on the refusal noted “It is very unfortunate that the Government of India has taken again the regrettable political decision of not allowing an athlete to achieve her dream of competing at a World Championships.

“Therefore, AIBA will study the appropriate actions will need to be consider to ensure that this situation never happens again, including the possibility to re-open the bidding process for the AIBA 2021 Men’s World Boxing Championships due to take place in India.”

On the table too has to be a reply from the International Olympic Committee to the Indian Olympic Association about its plans to bid for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, 2030 Asian Games and the 2032 Olympic Games. Keeping Kosovo away is a non-starter for the IOC.