(AUG 21)  The official draw took place in the Duna Arena yesterday and revealed the 359 boxers from 65 countries who will be competing for glory, hoping to follow their idols’ steps, as the tournament has always been a platform for future World and Olympic champions at the elite level. 

Set to reveal the champions of tomorrow, the 2018 edition of the Youth World Championships is ready to start tomorrow, in both women’s and men’s categories for the first time since Sofia 2014. The Duna Arena in the Hungarian city of Budapest will be buzzing with expectation, as the next generation of future boxing stars will take the ring for the eleven days of competition.

“The Youth World Championships has always been the perfect insight to the next generation of talented athletes just before their big step in the elite-level. With the help of the Hungarian LOC, we are ready to deliver a first-class event for our young athletes who have been dedicated so much to our beloved sport”, said AIBA Interim President, Gafur Rahimov.  Take a look to all the Draw Sheets

On the women’s side of the draw, all eyes will be on 2017 Youth World Champion, Indian Southpaw Nitu (48 kg) whose results this year prove she is coming to Budapest for a back to back win at the Youth event. USA’s Heaven Garcia (51 kg) will also be one of the greatest boxing hopes in display and Russia’s Anastassia Shamonova (75 kg), who has had some of the biggest results in Junior and Youth events, will be one to watch as well.

On the men’s side of the draw, names like Atichai Phoemsap (60 kg), Otha Jones (64 kg) and Ruslan Kolesnikov (81 kg) are part of the list of boxers with great ambition in Budapest, while Hungarian Attila Bernath will be ready to step up in the ring in front of his home crowd.

This edition will feature both women and men athletes and will witness the sport’s biggest hopes, with some of the boxers ready to step on the Olympic ring already, as they got their tickets for the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in October later this year.