Havana, January 18 (JIT) - The First National Women's Boxing Championship 2024 will begin this Friday at the Rafael Trejo Arena, in the municipality of Habana Vieja.

This was confirmed to JIT by Santiago Suarez, technical chief of women's boxing, who highlighted the presence in the competition of around 35 boxers.

"The provinces of Ciego de Avila, Las Tunas, Artemisa and the special municipality Isla de la Juventud will not be represented," Suarez said.

"The members of the national team led by Central Caribbean medalists Legnis Cala (57 kg, silver), Yaquelín Estornell (75 kg, bronze) and Arianne Imberth (66 kg, bronze) will fight," he noted.

All three are strong candidates to attend the qualifier to be held in the Italian city of Busto Arsizio, from February 29 to March 12, which will award 49 tickets, 21 of those in the women's division, for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"Estornell will compete in the national championship in the 66 kg division, because there she should have more chances to attend the qualifier, for which we have not defined anyone yet," he said. If another strategy is employed, dropping Estornell to 66 kg presupposes a duel with her coterie Imberth.

"Those who will go to Italy will be defined by behavior, compliance with the national team's training plan and results at the National Championships," he clarified.

"We have not yet decided the boxers who will cause casualties, from those who started, from the pioneers. We will decide that at the end of the National Championship," Suarez said.

For the National Championship, the 50, 54, 57, 60, 66 and 75 kilogram divisions were called. The participants will have to meet several requirements and undergo an extensive medical check-up to certify their optimal sporting form.

The technical meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 18. Actions will begin on Friday 19, after the weigh-in and medical check-up. The awards ceremony will take place on the 22nd.