Russian boxer Anastasiia Demurchian received congratulations from Russian President Vladimir Putin after winning gold at the IBA Women's World Championships
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Russian boxer Anastasiia Demurchian received congratulations from Russian President Vladimir Putin after winning gold at the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championships in New Delhi. The action has drawn criticism from some who see it as a sign of what might come if Russian athletes are permitted to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris the following year. Demurchian was one of 12 Russian boxers who were permitted to fight under their own flag by the IBA, against IOC recommendations. However, her triumph was overshadowed when Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 was played at the medal presentation in place of Russia’s national anthem.
Putin commended Anastasiia Demurchian on her triumph in a letter posted on the Kremlin website. The letter stated, “At the World Championships in New Delhi, you demonstrated bright leadership qualities, skill, and will, defeated strong and experienced rivals, and with your triumph confirmed the strong, confident position of the national boxing school.” Putin’s letter has sparked concerns among groups opposed to the IOC’s plans to allow individual Russian athletes to compete in Paris 2024, with fears that Putin will use their success for propaganda purposes.
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Anastasiia Demurchian and the other Russian boxers performed well at the championships despite the controversy regarding their participation. Demurchian clinched the gold medal in the light middleweight division, overcoming formidable opponents on the way. After her victory, she spoke to the Sport-Express newspaper about her experience, saying, “After a couple of seconds, I heard Tchaikovsky, it was insulting. But after that, all our fans sang the anthem with us, and then I walked around the ring with the flag of Russia. It was even better than the award.”
Since Russia was expelled from the Olympics due to state-sponsored doping, the choice of whether to permit Russian athletes to compete under their own flag has been a difficult one. Others contend that athletes from Russia who have not been linked to doping should be let to compete, while others think the nation should be subject to harsher penalties for its activities.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made an effort to find a balance by permitting specific Russian athletes to compete at upcoming competitions under certain restrictions, such as not being affiliated with the military or openly supporting the conflict in Ukraine. Many people continue to doubt the IOC’s ability to uphold these regulations and stop Russian athletes from utilizing their victory for political ends. Leading up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the controversy involving Russian athletes is probably going to persist.
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