Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh has written to the International Olympic Committee’s Task Force (Boxing) and offered to host the Asian and Oceanic qualification event to be held in the country this year after it was announced that the qualifiers were taken away from Wuhan, China due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
BFI president Ajay Singh in his letter addressed to Morinari Watanabe, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee’s Task Force (Boxing) wrote, “Due to any reason, if the event is to be shifted to a different country, Boxing Federation of India would be willing to host this Asian and Oceania Qualification Event 2020.”
Ajay Singh letter also clarified that they would like to host the event in Delhi at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall. The letter read, “We propose to organise this event at K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, New Delhi, where we earlier hosted the AIBA Elite Women’s World Boxing Championship in November, 2018.”
It is to be noted that the first Olympic qualifiers were to be held in Wuhan, China from February 3 to 15. However, the virus outbreak in the country has made it uncertain. Reports claim that the virus has claimed 17 lives so far and has infected around 550 people.
BFI has also got backing from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) who has written to the IOC assuring them full support and cooperation.
IOA President Narinder Batra’s letter to Morinari Watanabe read, “My request to you, if could consider the offer from BFI for which IOA assures IOC and you of its full support and cooperation.”
Earlier, in January boxers from Australia had visited India on BFI’s invitation to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers.
BFI believes that they will get to host the event as they have all the necessary equipment in place and as far as the finance as concerned BFI claims that they are hopeful of getting sponsors and government assistance. BFI is sure to get support from the Sports ministry as the ministry had off-late urged the National Sports Federations to host as many international events in India as possible.
