NEW DELHI: The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) might bid for the hosting rights of an Olympic qualifying tournament next year, continuing its efforts to bring big-ticket events to the country.
“Yes, the discussions are on. The plan is being prepared and BFI is set to try and bring an Olympic qualifying event to India. It is a long drawn process but the first steps have been taken,” a top BFI official told PTI on condition of anonymity.
If successful, it would be the first time that India would host an Olympic qualifying tournament.
The development follows on from the BFI’s successful bids made last year to host the 2018 Women’s World Boxing Championships (to be held here November 15-24) and the 2021 Men’s World Boxing Championships .
“The women’s world championship will be held in New Delhi in November, that bit has now been finalised. The venue is likely to be the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, which is also the base of the national camp for women,” the official told PTI.
The BFI had wanted to host the 2019 men’s world championship, which is an Olympic qualifying tournament, but lost out to Russia.
The world championships are always the first Olympic qualifying tournament followed by continental qualifiers.
