The much-anticipated opening day of the Senior Boxing National Championships in Greater Noida was marred by significant logistical hurdles, leading to a delay of more than four and a half hours on Sunday. The tournament, featuring top Indian pugilists, finally commenced at 6:30 PM instead of the scheduled 2:00 PM start time.
Logistical Hurdles Cause Major Setback
The primary cause for the holdup was the failure to transport three essential boxing rings and necessary lighting equipment to the venue at Gautam Buddha University on time. According to a Boxing Federation of India (BFI) official present at the site, the gear was supposed to arrive on Saturday night but was delayed, forcing the setup work to begin only on Sunday morning.
"There was an issue with the equipment reaching the venue. It should have come yesterday," the official stated. Assembling the rings is a meticulous process, requiring several hours to tighten numerous nuts and bolts. With three rings needed for this unique combined format for men and women, starting on time became an impossible task.
Snapped Steel Wire Adds to the Woes
Just as organizers were racing against the clock to set up the rings by the afternoon, a fresh problem emerged. A critical steel wire within one of the rings snapped, causing further delays. Hemanta Kalita, the President of Assam Boxing, confirmed the incident, noting that "the technician to fix it wasn't available for a short while."
This unprecedented combined national championship, which usually sees separate events for men and women, is the first to employ three rings simultaneously at a single venue. The BFI had proactively informed the athletes' groups about the expected delay once they realized the scale of the setup challenge.
Tournament Progresses Amidst Challenges
Despite the rocky start, the competition eventually got underway in the evening. Although only two of the three rings were fully operational initially, officials assured that all scheduled bouts for the day would be completed. The tournament, which boasts a stellar lineup including world champions like Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, and Minakshi Hooda, was originally planned for December 31 to January 6.
It was later rescheduled to January 4 to 10 at the same venue, a decision the BFI attributed to government-mandated pollution control measures. The event also marks a coaching shift, with former high-performance director Santiago Nieva returning to the national women's team setup.
In an official statement released later, the BFI acknowledged the delay, attributing it to "unforeseen circumstances." The federation confirmed that all operational issues were addressed and that the championships are now progressing smoothly according to the revised schedule.
