Delhi to host India Open boxing tournament from Jan 28

India is all set to host its first-ever major boxing tournament for elite men and women--India Open International Boxing Tournament--from January 28 in New Delhi.

Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh revealed this during the felicitation ceremony of Indian pugilists who had won medals in the AIBA Youth Women's World Championships in Guwahati last month.

"This is the first time that BFI is hosting an elite event of this stature and magnitude," Singh said.

"When I took over as president I had promised to bring many world-class tournaments to the country. We have already hosted the AIBA Youth Women's World Championship and now we are ready for the Indian Open. We are seen as one of the boxing powerhouses in the world now," he added.

Singh also divulged that for the first time in the history of the sport, India will field a team in the upcoming edition of World Series Boxing, AIBA's professional league. The team will be fully supported and sponsored by BFI.

Meanwhile, the federation also appreciated the efforts of Rafaelle Bergamasco, who helped India finish with its best-ever haul of seven medals (5 golds and 2 bronze) in the Youth Women's World Championship.

The federation has decided to elevate him as the overall High Performance Director of the Women's division including the elite women.

"He has done tremendous job with the youth squad and we are very confident that it will do wonders with the elite squad as well. And also these young boxers will form the core team in the future and it make all the more sense he is there with these boxers when they graduate to the next level," Singh explained.