Indian Boxing League likely by year end: BFI chief

NEWDELHI:FOLLOWING the successful conclusion of the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) 71st commission meeting here, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh on Wednesday announced that the first-ever franchise-based Indian Boxing League (IBL) will most likely be held by the end of the year.

Singh also added that India is planning to host one major tournament every year in the run-up to 2020 Tokyo Olympics, starting with the women’s Youth World Championships in November.

“We will be starting our own boxing league later this year and it will be a great opportunity for our boxers with respect to finances and exposure,” Singh said.

“The women’s Youth World Championships will be a great opportunity for the Indian boxers as they will be able to compete in such a huge event and it will also help in our preparations for Tokyo 2020,” he added. “This is just the beginning of our plans as we wish to host one major event every year. Our boxers will also be taking part in the 2017 World Series Boxing competition.”

KOTIAN NETS DOUBLE

Our Lady of Fatima pulled off a 5-2 win against Poinsur Gymkhana in a Second Division match at the St Xavier’s ground, Parel, on Wednesday. Our Lady of Fatima 5 (Rishar Kotian 2, Duarte Fernandes, Naresh Baji, Ogmohit Jani) bt Poisur Gymkhana 2 (Johan John, Karan Gandhi).

Jambori SA 2 (Prathopratim Mandal, Dev Patil) bt Leher Foundation 1 (Srikant Rathod).

KARNATAK VICTORIOUS

Karnatak SC scored a 4-1 win over Kanara Bros SC in the Karnatak Sporting Association’s 21st Ramanath Payyade Memorial

+39 T Shridhar bt +39 Meet Mirchandani 76-64, 96-49, 94-64; +35 Avinash Gaikwad bt +35 Nilesh Sagar 81-55, 75-82, 93-71, 61-78, 72-66; +39 Amardeep Bharaj bt +39 D Dias 78-37, 75-51, 92-54; +35 Omkar Pawar bt +39 Joel Jenson 79-64, 66-79, 78-60, 74-47; +35 Dharmesh Mistry bt +32 Vimal Thakkar 64-47, 77-49, 60-43; +35 Sahil Kakad bt +35 Luv Boricha 81-60, 79-55, 80-68; +35 Huzefa Cheni bt +42 Tanay Sheth 79-59, 84-74, 96-56; +24 Poras Shah bt +29 Loucik Pathare 73-60, 70(37)-42, 65-50; +32 Neville Razmi bt +32 Vishal Gehani 60-78, 75-52, 78(35)37, 76-62; +39 Nakul Patil bt +35 Rahul Chandan (84-62, 78-68, 73-67.

INDIA TO COMPETE IN ASIA RUGBY TOURNEY

NEW DELHI: A 12-member Indian rugby team has been announced to compete in the Asia Men’s Rugby Sevens Trophy, to be held at Doha, Qatar.

A total of 11 countries from across Asia will vie for top honours during the two-day tournament, starting March 3.

The winner will book a berth in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, which will feature three legs and will be played between September 1 to October 14.