According to R.K. Sacheti, Executive Director of the Boxing Federation of India, the country has secured the hosting rights for the 2020 Asian Boxing Championships for both male and female athletes. While the Asian Boxing Confederation officially granted these rights in February 2020, Sacheti noted that the exact location and schedule will only be confirmed once the pandemic situation stabilizes.
Sacheti believes the health crisis will subside by June 2020, which should provide enough time to get the matches back on track according to the original timeline. India has a history of hosting major boxing events, including the 1980 men's meet in Mumbai and the 2003 women's meet in Hisar. Following the ABC's decision last year to hold joint championships for both genders, India aims to host this year's event toward the end of 2020, specifically between November and December.
The final venue and dates will be announced as soon as the pandemic crisis improves. Although the Asian Boxing Championship was originally a once-every-20-years event, it has shifted to an annual format in recent years. Sacheti mentioned that talks to bring the tournament to India began in January 2020, and while the host country is settled, the specific city will be chosen once COVID-19 is no longer a primary concern.
India, like many other nations, has been hit hard by the virus, recording over 9,000 cases and 308 deaths. While the country follows strict government safety protocols, Sacheti noted that scheduling the matches for the end of the year provides a strategic window to plan for Olympic qualifications, which may take place around the same time.
The coronavirus pandemic has already caused significant disruption, pushing the Olympics to 2021 and cancelling events like Formula 1 and various tennis tournaments. When asked about the athletes' preparation, Sacheti explained that coaches and boxers are staying connected through regular communication and conducting training sessions via video calls. He praised the cooperation of the nine Indian boxers currently preparing for the Olympics.