DOHA: More than 70 boxers representing 12 countries will battle for honours at this week’s Doha International Boxing Tournament, it was announced yesterday.
The President of Qatar Boxing Federation (QBF) Yusuf Ali Kadim said nine boxers will represent hosts Qatar at the May 19-24 event.
This week’s event will be held at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Multipurpose Sports Hall - the venue of 2015 AIBA World Championships to be hosted in October this year.
“A total of 10 weight categories have been scheduled for this week’s event,” Kadim said during a media briefing yesterday.
“Qatar will be represented by nine boxers. Although each nation is allowed to field a maximum of eight boxers but because we are the hosts of the event, we can field an additional name,” Kadim said.
“We are expecting a fierce competition since the boxers you will see in action, will return to Doha for the 2015 AIBA World Championships which is a qualifying event for the Rio Olympic Games,” Kadim added.
“We are getting help from the Asian Boxing Federation for this event. The technical meeting for the event will be held on May 19 at the same venue,” Kadim said.
“The draw of the event will be announced on Wednesday,” he added.
Last week, QBF hosted an AIBA delegation headed by its Executive Director Ho Kim. The AIBA delegation was in town to inspect QBF’s preparation for the World Championships to be held in Doha from October 8 to 18.
“I feel this is the best venue of the last four AIBA World Boxing Championships. It is an outstanding venue,” Kim said last week.
“The training facilities are great. Ideal scenario for us is to have training facilities and the fight rings under the same roof. It is ideal for us. I think the boxing coaches will be very pleased to see all this,” the AIBA official added.
“We will be coming again, probably three more times so that we can get a feel of what’s happening with preparations. We will be here in July and in September. We may also undertake another visit at the end of August when all the continental championships are over. We have to make sure that all will be ready for the big show,” Kim said.
Kadim said yesterday Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will not be attending this week’s event after pulling out of the Doha championship.
He added the first team will arrive in Doha on Tuesday. He said Qatar has selected a strong team for the event.
“Since it is an event for amateur boxers, there is no prize money though the winners would get medals and certificates,” Kadim said.
Boxers from The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Australia and hosts Qatar will compete at the event.
“Our boxers are ready. They had been in training out of Qatar but right now they are in Doha,” Kadim said. “The Qatar boxers you will see in action this week will be back for the World Championships in October.
“This week’s event will be a major boon for the boxers who will coming back for the World Championships,” he added.
Kadim said entry to the venue is free.
“We don’t want to charge fans who wish to be at our event. We want the fans to enjoy some spectacular boxing bouts later this week,” he said.
Kadim said the weigh-in will take place on Wednesday followed by the medical check-ups. All the 10 finals will be held on mMay 23, Kadim added.
THE PENINSULA
