The nation is sending its squad to the Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023 despite being a member of the Common Cause Alliance, which comprises nations boycotting IBA events.
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Australia will send a team of nine boxers to the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s Boxing World Championships in New Delhi, India, from March 15 to 26. Despite being a member of the Common Cause Alliance, which comprises nations boycotting IBA events, the nation is sending its squad to the competition. It might have to do with the fact that the IBA president Umar Kremlev announced that he will be taking actions against the nations who have boycotted the tournament.
Australia supported Dutch official Boris van der Vorst in his efforts to become the IBA President last year. However, van der Vorst was unable to challenge Kremlev in Istanbul in May, and delegates voted against holding a rerun of the Presidential election in Yerevan in September. Since then, the IBA’s relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has worsened, and boxing is not part of the initial program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The IBA has pledged to support athletes from countries boycotting the World Championships, to ensure that “the political games of a few National Federations” don’t impact the boxers. Kremlev has criticized officials supporting the boycott, and the IBA’s Boxing Independent Integrity Unit has initiated disciplinary proceedings against five officials for their involvement in the boycott movement.
Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the IBA, the Women’s World Championships will offer a prize pool of $2.4 million (£2.0 million/€2.3 million). The event will attract top female boxers from around the world, including Australia’s team, who will be aiming to win medals in New Delhi.
Read more: Indian Team announced for IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023
The Australian team comprises accomplished boxers like Caitlin Parker, who won silver and bronze medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Kaye Scott, another bronze medalist from the Gold Coast 2018 in the welterweight category, and Tina Rahimi, who claimed the bronze medal in the featherweight category at the Birmingham 2022. Additionally, Monique Suraci, Tiana Echegaray, Danielle Scanlon, Marissa Williamson, Emma-Sue Greentree, and Jessica Bagley are among those selected to represent Australia at the Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023.
The team will be managed by Satinder Kaur, with Santiago Nieva serving as the head coach. Sam Brizzi and Jeremy Udovich have been named assistant coaches, and Josh McCabe will be the physiotherapist. Several countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, and The Netherlands, have decided to boycott IBA events over concerns about Kremlev’s governance and the decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals.
Read more: Italy to send team for Women’s World Boxing Championships despite boycott by other nations
Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023 squad: Monique Suraci (50-52 kg), Tiana Echagaray (52-54 kg), Tina Rahimi (54-57 kg), Danielle Scanlon (57-60 kg), Marissa Williamson (63-66 kg), Kaye Scott (66-70 kg), Caitlin Parker (70-75kg), Emma-Sue Greentree (75-81 kg), Jessica Bagley (+81 kg)
Read more: Women’s World Boxing Championships 2023: India’s capital to host the upcoming edition
