The Boxing Federation of India is conducting the men’s national championships here in 10 weight categories, in line with the classification introduced by the breakaway World Boxing (WB).
For the record, BFI allied with WB last May.
Per PTI, the ongoing event is being held under WB’s Technical and Competition Rules, which has 10 instead of the 13 weight categories that feature in the suspended International Boxing Association’s (IBA) roster.
The new weight classes are 50kg (Flyweight), 55kg (Bantamweight), 60kg (Lightweight), 65kg (Welterweight), 70kg (Light Middleweight), 75kg (Middleweight), 80kg (Light Heavyweight), 85kg (Cruiserweight), 90kg (Heavyweight) and +90kg (Super Heavyweight).
Out of these, six categories — 55kg, 60kg, 65, 70kg, 80kg, and 90kg — are marked as potential Olympics weight categories.
The new categories for women are 48kg (Light Flyweight) is the first division followed by 51kg (Flyweight), 54kg (Bantamweight), 57kg (Featherweight), 60kg (Lightweight), 65kg (Welterweight), 70kg (Light Middleweight), 75kg (Middleweight), 80kg (Light Heavyweight), +81kg (Heavyweight).
Formed in April last year after the IBA was stripped of its status, the Western powers-backed WB has managed to pull in requisite 60 members and the IOC, which thus far has been actively promoting the breakaway body, is expected to take a final call on its recognition early next year.
