"Without transgender people, but with the Russian flag!": the women's Boxing World Cup started in Serbia

The IBA 2025 Women's World Boxing Championship started yesterday, March 8, in the Serbian city of Nis. The tournament was opened by a parade of sportswomen with flags of their countries.

"It is very symbolic that we are opening our women's World Boxing Championship on International Women's Day. Dear sportswomen, your success goes far beyond victories in the ring: each of you serves as a living example of achievements for millions of girls around the world. We must be united so that these days of the World Cup in Nis become truly unforgettable. We have an uncompromising but fair fight for titles ahead of us, 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. Maria Kuchmanova, who performs in the weight category over 81 kg, became the flag bearer in the Russian team.

"This is my first World Championship, and immediately such a responsible task. It is a great joy and a great pride for me. I am happy that it was I who carried the country's flag at the opening ceremony of the championship," said the Russian.

Maria remembered that in 2023 at the championship in India, the flag bearer of the Russian team was Diana Pyatak, who won a medal at those competitions. Kuchmanova expressed the hope that this will become a tradition, and she, too, will be lucky.

Russia is represented in all 12 weight categories at the Niche Championship. Besides 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).

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

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

On the first day of the competition, on March 9, the Russian Bezel reached the 1/8 finals of the championship without a fight, as the athlete from South Africa Anelisva Nkube, who fell to her by lot, withdrew from the competition.

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