Saint Petersburg: The 2016 edition AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships is all set to commence in Saint Petersburg today. The AIBA Youth Championships which is seen as a tournament to reveal the champions of tomorrow from November 17-26, 2016.
The 2016 edition of the AIBA Youth World Championships will bring forward more than 350 boxers aged 17 and 18 from around the world for ten days of competition. The event has the repute of a rich breeding ground for the stars of the future
As the event commence today, the Sibur Arena in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg is all set to be buzzing with expectation today as the next generation of future boxing stars takes to the ring for ten days of competition at the AIBA Youth World Championships. Among the most important events of AIBA, the tournament has traditionally been a platform for future World and Olympic Champions at the elite level, and the 351 boxers born in 1998 and 1999 who have registered for the competition will be looking to follow in their idols’ footsteps.
Speaking about the championships, AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu said, “The Youth World Championships have always offered an important insight into the next wave of talented athletes ready to take the major step into elite-level boxing. With the help of the LOC, we are ready to deliver another first-class tournament that reflects the dedication of these young boxers who represent the future of our sport.”
The Youth World Championships has unearthed some of the well known boxers from across the globe, like Cuba’s two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez, the USA’s Rio 2016 silver medalist Shakur Stevenson and French Super Heavyweight Olympic champion Tony Yoka. Kazakhstan’s Ivan Dychko, China’s Lu Bin and Croatia’s most successful Olympic boxer of all time, Filip Hrgovic. The competition first adopted its current format in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2008.
Speaking further, Wu added about the participation and said, “The 63 countries represented by the 351 boxers who have made it here to Saint Petersburg are testament to our continuing work at AIBA to nourish the grassroots of the sport, especially in those areas where resources are harder to come by. I wish all of the boxers good luck and trust that the dedication that has got them this far will fuel long, successful careers.”
In lead to the tournament and in line with the AIBA’s continuing Headsup initiative to develop education, sustainability and grassroots within the sport, an anti-doping seminar was held. AIBA also held a course for APB and WSB officials ahead of the tournament. Concerning the injury prevention, a cutman seminar completed the series of training sessions, providing teams with essential instruction on the latest hand-wrapping techniques. AIBA will further the initiatives in 2017 to enhance expertise across the board.