Delhi hosts 4th World Women's Boxing C'ship, confusion over venues

New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Responding to demands for a change in venues, India has decided to shift the fourth World Women's Boxing Championship from Hyderabad to the Capital even though there remains some concern over the venue for the November 17-24 event.

Secretary of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) Col P K Muralidharan Raja had Sports Authority of India (SAI) Director General RP Watal besides him as he told reporters that SAI has allotted the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium for the event.

''The event was scheduled in Hyderabad but the participating countries requested to hold it in Delhi, because they don't have direct flight to Hyderabad. So we decided to host it here and SAI has allotted us the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, this is how the things stands now,'' he said.

He, however, hinted that eventually, it might take place at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium.

''We met Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who agreed to be the chief patron of the event, and have an option in Talkatora Stadium. Talkatora has already been earmarked to host the boxing events when Delhi hosts the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Women's Boxing Championship can be the ideal trial run. IABF is also bidding for the 2009 Commonwealth Championship and again, hosting this event at Talkatora would help us get an idea, whether the venue is good enough for such an event,'' he elaborated.

He, however, hoped that the November 17-24 tournament would prove a success.

''Last time we held a major international boxing event was during the 1982 Asian Games and hence it's quite an occasion for us,'' he said.

The IABF secretary was also optimistic about India's chances in the World Women's Championship.

''Our boxers have been in good form and in the last World Championships in Moscow, we won a Gold and four Bronze medals, competing with 29 countries. This time, however, 46 countries will be in the fray and it would a highly competitive event,'' he said.

Col Raja also informed that India would bid for the 2009 World Senior Boxing Championship and if IABF wins it, medal winners in the Beijing Olympics can be expected here.

Meanwhile, IABF has added three former coaches -- OP Bhardwaj, GS Sandhu and Chiranjeevi -- to its four-member selection panel.

Col Raja said boxers are also sweating it out for both the SAF Games and the Doha Asian Games, scheduled later this year.

''The senior men's team is practising in Patiala and we are going to send them on a training-cum-exposure trip to any of the East European countries -- Russia, Azerbaijan or Ukraine. We also have plans to send them to either Egypt or Finland before the Asian Games. Last time, we didn't get a single medal from the Asian Games, hope things would be different this time,'' Col Raja said, expressing his gratitude to the Mittal Champions Trust.

Mr Watal said SAI would offer all kinds of support, especially training and exposure for the pugilists, within its existing schemes.

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