Boxing Federation of India introduces Zonal Championships with aim to unearth promising female boxers

This
massive
grassroot
level
initiative
will
start
with
the
Khelo
India
East
Zone
Open
Zonal
Boxing
Championship
which
will
be
held
at
SAI
Regional
Centre
in
Guwahati
from
September
15.

The
Junior
Girls
competition
is
expected
to
witness
1400
entries,
while
1600
boxers
will
participate
in
the
Youth
Women
section.
The
successful
pugilists
from
the
four
zonal
tournaments
will
progress
to
the
Combined
Open
Zonal
Boxing
Championship,
which
would
be
held
on
a
knock-out
basis.

This
Zonal
Championship
is
part
of
BFI’s
long-term
plans
to
provide
exposure
and
create
a
stronger
bench
strength
for
Indian
women’s
boxing.

“Our
motive
is
to
find
new
and
fresh
talents
at
the
Junior
and
Youth
level.
Such
Open
Championships
will
not
only
provide
opportunity
but
also
give
a
platform
from
where
strong
and
talented
contenders
can
get
a
direct
shot
at
being
selected
for
National
Camp
and
represent
India,
complete
and
win
medals
for
the
country”,
said
Hemanta
Kalita,
Secretary
General,
Boxing
Federation
of
India
and
General
Secretary
of
Assam
Amateur
Boxing
Association.

While
East
Zone
and
South
Zone
competitions
are
likely
to
witness
the
participation
of
close
to
700
boxers
(300
in
Junior
Girls
and
400
in
Youth
Women),
West
Zone
and
North
Zone
events
are
likely
to
have
800
entries
(400
in
each
category).

There
will
be
52
medals
up
for
grabs
in
13
different
weight
categories
in
the
Junior
Girls
section,
while
48
medals
will
be
awarded
in
the
12
Youth
Women
categories
as
participation
is
expected
from
28
states
and
eight
Union
Territories.

The
official
draw
of
the
first
of
the
four
zonal
events
will
be
held
at
5:00
pm
on
September
15
in
Guwahati,
with
the
competition
scheduled
to
be
held
from
September
16
to
22.