Expansion
This is the third time that India is going to organize the World Women’s Boxing Championship. When the championship was held here for the first time in 2006, the Indian team did its best by winning eight medals, including four gold. The challenge before Indian boxer daughters is to repeat the success of 17 years ago. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, International Boxing Association President Umar Kremlev and Indian Boxing Association President Ajay Singh inaugurated the championship at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex on Wednesday.
The winner will get Rs 87 lakh
Around 300 female boxers from 65 countries are going to participate in this championship. However, countries like USA, England, Ireland, Ukraine have boycotted the championship due to allowing Russia and Belarus to play. Despite this, the boxer who wins the gold medal in this championship will get a huge prize money of one lakh US dollars (about Rs 87 lakh). Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen, who is going to defend her title, has even said that if she wins here, she will buy an expensive car with the prize money.
Lovlina, Nikhat to enter new weight categories
India’s challenge in the championship rests on the shoulders of Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen. Both the boxers are experienced. Lovlina has already won two bronze in this championship. She says her aim this time is to change the color of the medal. Both Lovlina and Nikhat are going to play in the new 75 and 50 weight categories. Lovlina used to play in the 69 and Nikhat in the 52 weight category earlier, but both have been out of the Olympics, due to which both have adopted new weights. Lovlina says she will try to put more power in her punches in the new weight.
All eyes will be on Neetu, Manisha, Jasmine
Apart from these two, Birmingham Commonwealth Games winner Neetu (48), Manisha Maun (57), who won bronze in the 2018 World Championships in Delhi, Jasmine (60), who won bronze in Commonwealth Games, will also be eyeing. Other members of the team include Sakshi Chowdhary (52), Preeti (54), Shashi Chopra (63), Manju Bamboriya (66), Sanamacha Chanu (70), Sweety Boora (81) and Nupur Sheoran (granddaughter of legendary boxer Hawa Singh) plus 81) will have the Indian challenge on his shoulders.
