Boxing's Olympic Qualifiers postponed to March after Wuhan cancellation

Boxing's Olympic Qualifying Tournament scheduled next month was on Friday pushed to March, a couple of days after it was canceled in Chinese city of Wuhan following outbreak of vel Coronavirus. International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Boxing Task Force (BTF), which is in charge of conducting sport at Olympics later this year, confirmed change of dates in its latest communication to national federations. " Asian/Oceanian Tokyo 2020 boxing qualifying event has been rescheduled and is planned between March 3-11, 2020. BTF is currently exploring alternative locations outside of People's Republic of China and will immediately inform National Olympic Committees, National Federations, and officials as soon as a new host is appointed," BTF stated.

Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has offered to host Tournament, which was to be held from February 3-14 in Wuhan.    schedule was thrown haywire by health crisis in China, which has so far claimed 26 lives and infected over 800 people prompting authorities to shut down 13 cities in country. "...due to any reason, if event is to be shifted to a different country, Boxing Federation of India would be willing to host this Asian and Oceania Qualification Event 2020," BFI President Ajay Singh h stated in a letter to Chairman of International Olympic Committee's Task Force (Boxing) Morinari Watanabe.

"We propose to organise this event at K D Jhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stium Complex, New Delhi, where we earlier hosted AIBA Elite Women's World Boxing Championship in vember, 2018," he ded.

Olympic qualifying process for boxing is being ministered by IOC Task Force after International Boxing Association (AIBA) was suspended for alleged ministrative mismanment and financial bungling. BFI's proposal has been backed by Indian Olympic Association (IOA). India, having conducted women's World Youth Championships in 2017 and senior women's World Championships, will host 2021 men's showpiece.