India to host maiden men's World Boxing Championship in 2021

NEW DELHI: It was only late last year that India ended their banishment from the world boxing fold which lasted almost four years. Since then, Indian boxing have enjoyed some good tidings, highlighted by country's pugilists securing seven 2017 World Championships berths so far.
On Tuesday, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) managed a major coup by bringing to India the 2021 men's World Championship for the first time as well as the women's Worlds next year.
Both the events will be taking place in the Capital, according to the proposal submitted by BFI president Ajay Singh at the two-day International Boxing Association (AIBA) meeting in Moscow. "This is a great day for Indian boxing and Indian sport. To get the hosting rights for these two major events represents the strides that Indian boxing has managed to make in the last few months," a happy Ajay Singh told TOI from Moscow on Tuesday.
"I personally made the presentation in front of the executive committee in Moscow. I explained to them that both the events will take place in Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium in New Delhi, with the women's event in the KD Jadhav Hall while the men's tournament in 2021 will be held at the gymnastics arena. We picked this venue as these are established facilities in the national Capital," Singh added.
The embattled AIBA also picked Russia to host the 2019 men's World Championships, amid reports of a no-confidence vote against president Ching-Kuo Wu over concerns about the Switzerland-based body's finances. "We are delighted to have the AIBA men's World Championships 2019 confirmed for Sochi, and equally excited to announce New Delhi as host city in 2021 as the Boxing Federation of India continues to show its commitment to developing the sport," Wu said in a statement. "Following the presentation of the Turkish Boxing Federation, I know that Trabzon will also meet the demands of hosting the world's biggest women's boxing tournament in 2019," he added.
While India has hosted the women's World Championship in 2006, the men's event will take place in the country for the first time. "This is the first time that a country has been awarded two major championships, that too back-to-back. The AIBA president told me personally that the presentation from India was the best," the BFI president said.
Since gaining back international recognition, BFI have appointed foreign coaches for both the men's and women's team — Santiago Nieva and Stephane Cottalorda respectively. "India getting a chance to host two major world events is wonderful news for Indian boxing. The boxers will be motivated to work harder and aim for medal in front of their home crowd. However, this is not an easy process and it will take time and dedication," Nieva told TOI from Prague on Tuesday.
"Seven boxers have already qualified for the Worlds in Hamburg next month. We have just completed a good training session with the French boxers in France. Our next assignment is a Grand Prix tournament in Usti-nad-Labem in Czech Republic where we'll be facing some boxers from other countries who have qualified for the Worlds as well. The form and fitness is looking well and I am confident of a good show in Hamburg," the coach added.