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The last Olympic boxing qualifier for Tokyo 2020 – a world event scheduled to take place in Paris in June – has been dropped.
Fifty-three quota places that would have been available during World Olympic Qualification will now be allocated based on ranking, with the top-ranked boxer by region and weight category receiving a spot for Tokyo 2020.
The European qualifier – twice postponed and already far from London – will now take place in June, it is hoped, but the location remains to be determined.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Boxing Working Group (BTF) said changes to the qualification system ensure athletes from all regions have an equal chance of qualifying for the Games.
Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires has been confirmed as the destination for the Americas playoffs, May 10-16.
An Asia-Oceania qualifier was held in Jordan last year, while Senegal hosted the African event.
The European event, held in London 2012, the Copper Box, was canceled after three days of competition last March due to the escalating coronavirus crisis.
Athletes’ recovery times have been increased thanks to the updated qualification system – “reinforcing the BTF’s focus on medical and safety considerations” – and the BTF added that it was protecting both its ranking and the Tokyo 2020 ranking system.
The BTF ranking at the end of each continental event will be used to distribute the 53 additional quota places – 32 for men and 21 for women.
The Tokyo 2020 boxing tournament is being hosted by the BTF after the IOC suspended recognition from the International Boxing Association in May 2019 over long-standing governance, financial and ethical issues.
Morinari Watanabe, IOC member of Japan and president of the International Gymnastics Federation, chairs the BTF.
Its ranking has been reviewed by an external auditor to ensure integrity and openness, the BTF added.
The abandonment of the world qualification will be a blow in particular for the boxers of Africa, Asia and Oceania, whose passage to the Olympics is now out of their hands.
However, Mary Kom – one of the BTF’s athlete ambassadors – said: “I would like to thank the Boxing Task Force for listening to our feedback and for putting the health and safety of athletes at the forefront of their work. Decision process.
“The BTF events are Olympic qualifiers, we must never forget that.
“Everyone deserves a fair chance to participate and have the appropriate time to recover from a competition and prepare for the Olympics.”
Kom, six-time world champion and bronze medalist in London 2012 for India, has already qualified for Tokyo 2020.
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