The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2022 were opened in Istanbul today by IBA President Umar Kremlev, marking the start of two weeks of ground-breaking competition. A record 310 athletes are entered, representing 73 National Federations, who will be boxing in an expanded 12 weight categories.
“Women boxers have demonstrated by their skill, by their strength and by their determination that they have so much to offer our sport. And boxing has much to offer women all around the world,” said IBA President Umar Kremlev. “IBA has been working hard to provide opportunities for women and to promote them, both inside and outside the ring. And I am now looking forward to seeing new boxing legends to be born in the next 2 weeks.”
In addition to the competitions, a number of leadership development seminars will be held throughout the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2022, to help ensure more women hold roles as officials, coaches and administrators within boxing. Meanwhile safeguarding measures have been implemented, following the IBA’s July 2021 adoption of a policy to protect IBA participants from harassment and abuse.
A wide range of improvements to sporting integrity are also being implemented to deliver on the promise of a fair fight. Officials, including referees & judges, have been subject to a random draw and extensive background checks. These have been carried out by the team of Professor Richard McLaren, with team members also in Istanbul to support integrity work during the championships. “Over the last year and a half, IBA has moved to a culture of integrity that goes beyond the many measures we have put in place,” added Kremlev.
Following its successful introduction at the IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships 2021, IBA’s women’s Fair Chance team is also present in Istanbul, allowing boxers who have been displaced or who are otherwise unable to compete for their national federations to take part.
Returning to the IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2022 are a number of World Champions, aiming to defend their titles, including Beatriz Ferreira from Brazil, Busenaz Surmeneli from Turkey, and Huang Hsiao-Wen from Chinese Taipei.