In the wake of international travel restrictions to India, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), in consultation with Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC), on Wednesday decided to conduct the upcoming 2021 edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships in Dubai.
The event will now be orgsed by BFI in association with UAE Boxing Federation. The tournament was earlier scheduled to take place between May 21 to 31 at Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in New Delhi.
BFI had also received the NOC from the Sports Ministry to host the tournament and the preparations were in full swing. However, with the newly-imposed international travel restrictions from many countries due to the prevailing pandemic situation, BFI and ASBC jointly took a decision to relocate the tournament.
"It's unfortunate that we have to shift the venue out of India. We were very keen to host the championships in Delhi but we are left with no options. Boxers' safety is the most important concern for us and hence we had to take this decision. We are grateful to UAE for accepting our request and agreeing to co-host on such a short notice. We are thankful to all member federations and ASBC for their cooperation," BFI President Ajay Singh said in an official release.
"We closely monitored the situation and after deliberation with ASBC as well as the Government of India, we decided to conduct the tournament in Dubai. I wish for everyone's good health and safety and pray that India soon come out of this situation strongly," he added.
In a communication to all the member national federations on Tuesday, ASBC informed that the upcoming edition of the championships will now take place between May 21 to June 1.
( With inputs from ANI )
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