The Second India Open International Boxing Tournament beginstoday at Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati. The tournament is being held atKarmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium. The tournament is scheduledfrom May 20 to May 24 as informed by Assam Boxing Association (ABA).

People of Assam will be able to witness six time worldchampion Mary Kom, youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics Shiva Thapa,Asian Games champion Amit Panghal and many other national and internationalboxers from around 16 countries who will be taking part in the tournament.

The prelims will be held on Monday and Tuesday followed bythe quarter-finals and semi-finals and finally the grand finale scheduled onMay 24. The gold medalist will be awarded with 2500 US dollar and the silvermedalist to get 1000 US dollar.

It has been reported that six pugilists of Assam willrepresent the country infront of the home crowd. The tournament is to be heldin 18 categories- 10 in men and 8 in women.

Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, this tournament will alsoserve as a testing ground for the pugilists to refine their skills. It willalso serve as an examination ground for the premier pugilists who have changedtheir weight categories to comply with the new weight criteria for 2020Olympics.