India gears up to host Women’s World Boxing Championships for a third time, IBA President Umar Kremlev says, 'it became capital of women's boxing'

International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev on Tuesday called India the capital of women’s boxing as the country gears up to host the Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023, starting on March 15 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.

The tournament is set to take place in India for the third time - the most for any country in the history of the championship. The previous two editions were held in 2006 and 2018 in New Delhi.

“India became the capital of women’s boxing and now we are witnessing historical moments together. Generally, 250 to 260 boxers compete in such championships but this year it’s a huge championship,” Kremlev said in the press conference.

The upcoming 13th edition of the tournament will see participation of more than 300 boxers form 65 countries competing for the title as well as the whooping prize of INR 20 core across 12 weight categories.

“I think the fact that India is hosting the championship for the third time is testimony to the fact that India is a real power in boxing



and as the IBA President said it is indeed a capital of women’s boxing in the world. What gives us even greater pleasure is the fact that the sport has enabled us to empower women in our country. And we look upon boxing as one of the paths by which women from backgrounds, which are not often the best, rise up and become champions of the world,” said BFI President Ajay Singh.

An IOC monitoring team has also arrived in India and will work in parallel with the IBA onsite. Prof Richard McLaren and his McLaren Independent Investigation Team (MIIT) will be responsible for the background vetting check of the competition officials at championship.

Kremlev further said that there will be no doubts about the integrity of the competition with the monitoring team and the bout review rule in place.

The opening ceremony on March 15 will be attended by the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur, IBA President Kremlev and BFI President Ajay Singh along with brand ambassador of the event MC Mary Kom and guest of honour Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar.