Commonwealth Boxing Championships shifted to 2010

New Delhi (PTI): The Indian Boxing Federation's (IBF) request to postpone the Commonwealth Championships here from December to February-March next year has been accepted by the Commonwealth body.

The Commonwealth Boxing Federation (CBF) has agreed to reschedule the tournament in the city from December 2009 to February-March next year, the IBF said in a statement.

"The Indian Boxing Federation has now requested the International Boxing Association to allot a suitable date in February-March 2010 so that it does not clash with any other major international boxing competitions in the world," IBF secretary general PK Muralidharan Raja said.

This change was necessitated since construction work at Talkatora Stadium, venue of the boxing event for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will be completed by November this year.

"Although NDMC has promised to hand over the stadium by December, the federation in consultation with the Organising Committee of Commonwealth Games has preferred to host the Commonwealth Boxing Championships, which will be a test event for the Commonwealth Games, in February-March 2010 rather than trying to squeeze it in December this year," Raja added.

In another development, the first international (16th AK Mishra) boxing tournament will be held in Chandigarh from March 11-15 this year.