Women's World Boxing Championships: Russian Anthem Played Incorrectly During Medal Ceremony

Women's World Boxing Championships: The organisers were quick to realise their blunder and Demurchian Anastasiia later stood on the podium alone as the correct Russian anthem was played.

Demurchian Anastasiia, who won the gold after defeating Australia's Scott Kaye Frances, later stood on the podium alone as the correct Russian anthem was played.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: While Indian boxers have already clinched two gold medals are in contention for two more at the Women's World Boxing Championships happening in their home, the hosts still had to face embarrassment on Saturday. This wasn't due to the performances but because of a glitch which resuled in the incorrect Russian national anthem being played during the 70kg medal ceremony of the competition.

However, the organisers were quick to realise their blunder.

"We apologise for playing the wrong Russian anthem. We request you to give a huge round of applause to Demurchian Anastasiia," the announcer said after almost all the spectators had left the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.

Demurchian Anastasiia, who won the gold after defeating Australia's Scott Kaye Frances, later stood on the podium alone as the correct Russian anthem was played. It is worth mentioning here that the president of the International Boxing Association (IBA), Umar Kremlev, is a Russian.

🇷🇺🥇Russia takes Gold at the World Women's Boxing Championships in India.

Anastasia Demurchian, under 70kg category, took 1st place over Australian Kaye Scott.

🇮🇳 India allows athletes from Russia to compete with their country colours and anthem pic.twitter.com/sSzlqvSVCs

— Donbass Devushka (@PeImeniPusha) March 26, 2023

"The Local Organising Committee took the anthem from the Russian coach, checked it and handed it over to the IBA events team, who are in charge of the entire medal ceremony. There was a meeting regarding this and IBA is doing its own investigation and BFI will fully cooperate with the process," a Boxing Federation of India (BFI) spokesperson said after the gaffe as quoted in the PTI report.

It is to be noted that over 10 countries including USA, Britain, Ireland and Netherlands boycotted the tournament because the International Boxing Association (IBA) allowed the Russian and Belarusian boxers to compete under their respective flags.

As far as the Indian contingent is concerned, Saweety Boora clinched the gold meal in the 81 kg category after Nitu Ghanghas won the gold in gthe 48 kg category on Saturday. Nikhat Zareen (50 kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg) will box in their respective gold medal bouts on Sunday (March 26) evening.

(With inputs from News Agency PTI)