The Women's World Boxing Championship has started in Serbia

The IBA 2025 Women's World Boxing Championship began in the Serbian city of Nis on Saturday, March 8. It was opened by a parade of athletes with flags.

"It is very symbolic that we are opening our Women's World Boxing Championship on International Women's Day. Dear athletes, your success goes far beyond winning in the ring: each of you serves as a living example of achievement for millions of girls around the world. We must be united to make these days of the World Cup in Nis truly unforgettable. Ahead of us lies an uncompromising but fair fight for titles, friendship between athletes from different countries and, of course, new great achievements," said Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association, at the opening ceremony of the championship.

239 athletes from 51 teams, including the Fair Chance Team, will take part in the competition. At the opening, the boxers held a parade with flags. Maria Kuchmanova, who competes in the weight category over 81 kg, became the flag bearer in the Russian team.

"This is my first World Cup, and it's such an important task right away. It is a great joy and a great pride for me. I am happy that I was the one who carried the country's flag at the opening ceremony of the championship," said the boxer.

She recalled that in 2023, at the championship in India, the flagbearer of the Russian team was Diana Pyatak, who won a medal at those competitions. Kuchmanova expressed the hope that this would become a tradition, and she, too, would be lucky.

Russia is represented in all 12 weight categories at the NIS Championship. In addition to Kuchmanova, boxers Yulia Chumgalakova (48 kg), Rinata Bezel (50 kg), Anna Aedma (52 kg), Karina Tazabekova (54 kg), Lyudmila Vorontsova (57 kg), Nune Asatryan (60 kg), Elena Babicheva (63 kg), Albina Moldazhanova (66 kg), Elena Gapeshina (70 kg), Anastasia Shamonova (75 kg), Saltanat Medenova (81 kg).

Alexander Besputin, General Secretary of the Russian Boxing Federation, noted that the Russian national team has a fighting spirit, and the organization, for its part, will do everything possible for a good performance by the Russians. The head of the federation believes that the boxers will be in the top three of the overall standings at the end of the championship.

"I would like to wish good luck to our athletes and say that we are the support they can count on," added Besputin.

On the first day of the competition, on March 9, Russian Bezel reached the 1/8 finals of the championship without a fight, as the athlete from the Republic of South Africa (South Africa), Aneliswa Nkube, withdrew from the competition.

The IBA Women's World Boxing Championship will last until March 16.

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