2023 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships

 Four Indian Female Boxers Win Gold Medals In Various Weight Divisions

The 13th IBA Women's World Boxing Championship 2023, which took place in New Delhi, sees India emerge as a dominant force. Four Indian female boxers clinched gold medals in numerous weight divisions to cap the competition. Top performers in their respective categories included Nikhat Zareen, Saweety Boora, Lovlina Borgohain, and Nitu Ghanghas. which contributed to India's historically successful performance in the competition. This was the second time India achieved such a spectacular achievement, the first being in the 2006 event. The 13th Women's World Boxing Championship was staged in 2023 by the International Boxing Association (IBA), and it ran from March 15 to March 26.

What is the International Boxing Association (IBA)?

World and regional champions in amateur (Olympic-style) boxing are recognised by the IBA, formerly known as the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA). Five continental confederations make up the IBA: AFBC, AMBC, ASBC, EUBC, and OCBC. There are 203 national boxing federations in the association. Prior to 2019, when the IOC discontinued the accreditation of the organisation, the International Boxing Association (IBA) was acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the international regulatory body for the sport of boxing.

What is the IBA World Boxing Championship?

The International Boxing Association (IBA), the sport's regulatory body, organises the biennial amateur boxing championships known as the World Boxing Championships and the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships (formerly known as AIBA). Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, they are indeed the highest degree of competition for the sport. The inaugural men's championships took place in 1974, and the inaugural women's championships took place more than 25 years later, in 2001.On separate schedules every two years, the two championships take place. Since 1989 the men’s championships have been contested every odd year; the women’s championships were held in even years between 2006 and 2018 and switched to a nominal odd-year schedule in 2019.

India’s performance in the IBA World Boxing Championship 2023

Nitu Ghanghas claimed gold by defeating Lutsaikhan Altansetseg of Mongolia in the 48kg final at the IBA. Nitu became just the sixth boxer from India to win a world title, male or female. With a split decision, Saweety Boora defeated Wang Lina of China in the 81 kg final to win her third Asian medal. In order to retain her title, Nikhat Zareen defeated Thi Tham Nguyen of Vietnam in the 50 kg final by unanimous decision (5-0), earning her second gold medal from the Women's World Boxing Championships. Mary Kom is the only other Indian female boxer to have won several gold medals at the IBA Women's World Championships, and Nikhat is the only other one. Indian Lovlina Borgohain won her first gold medal at a world championship. In a fiercely contested 75 kg final match, the bronze medallist from the Tokyo Olympics prevailed against Caitlin Parker of Australia by split decision.

Challenges in Boxing

The International Boxing Association (IBA), which is in conflict with the International Olympic Committee due to its exclusion from the Olympics over a number of issues, should be encouraged by the event, which highlights the competitiveness and appeal of women's boxing. The IBA attempted to ensure openness and impartiality while being observed on the ground by a separate McLaren team. Actions were taken against below ­par match officials and athletes who seemingly enjoyed an unfair advantage. As an inducement to increase participation, it provided a sizable prize pool, including $100,000 to each winner, and financial support to boxers. Despite the occasional hiccup, the event was conducted successfully, which has inspired the IBA to consider India as a potential market for boxing. Eyeing a better performance in the Olympics, the Boxing Federation of India’s ambition to hold more premier events will encourage the boxing community further.

The Way Forward

Ever since Vijender Singh’s 2008 Olympics bronze, Men’s boxing may have been in a lull with no improvement in sight. Yet, the women have demonstrated that boxing in India is their domain at the World Championships as preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are in full swing. Indian women have won more Olympic medals than Indian males, at least. Yet it is the regular flow of shattering headlines that the women generate that has given brilliant visibility to women’s boxing in India. Women's boxing can be counted on to be a reliable source of inspiration because of the confident performances at the highest level that never flag in quality or lose steam. The legacy of high standards that Kom established in India with her six World Championships continues in Ghanghas and Zareen, in Boora and Borgohain. Zareen is the only other competitor, besides Neeraj Chopra, who can be considered a medal certainty for the Paris Games due to her consistent performance. The absolute best is still to come.