(SEPT 2) AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu met with the National Federations gathered in Hamburg for the 2017 AIBA World Championships on Saturday morning to reflect on the success of the tournament and the quality of the boxing, and to look ahead through the Olympic Cycle to Tokyo 2020. Also present at the meeting was the IOC Sports Director Mr Kit McConnell, who outlined the key changes planned for Tokyo, including the addition of two new weight categories for the Women’s competition, taking the total up to five.

“I wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate the National Federations on their work in Hamburg before we crown our ten worthy 2017 Champions this evening. I thank Mr Kit McConnell for his presentation of the IOC’s plan for Tokyo 2020, which made it clear that boxing’s position as a central sport within the Olympic Games remains unchanged. I am delighted for our athletes that after our re-alignment towards gender equality, boxing’s quota of medals has remained the same,” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.

Mr McConnell emphasised the quality and professionalism of AIBA’s proposal to maintain ten Men’s weight categories and incorporate two more for women, but underlined that the number of athletes and events has now been set in accordance with the Olympic Agenda 2020. The Tokyo 2020 Boxing Competition will see eight men’s and five women’s boxing categories for the first time in history.