Ammon News - The Asian Amateur Boxing Championships for under-15 and under-17 categories officially began Saturday at the Rashid Al-Zyoud Hall in Al Hussein Youth City, with the participation of 410 male and female athletes. The event will run until April 30.

The opening ceremony, held under the patronage of His Highness Prince Nayef bin Asem, President of the Jordan Boxing Federation, featured the Royal Anthem performed by the Public Security Directorate's band, followed by a video showcasing Jordan’s archaeological and tourist landmarks.

Attendees also enjoyed a traditional dabkeh performance by the Greater Amman Municipality's band and a musical segment by artist Mahmoud Al-Dajjah. The ceremony concluded with a parade of flags representing the participating countries, underscoring the championship’s spirit of international competition.

Prince Nayef highlighted Jordan’s growing role as a regional sports destination capable of hosting major athletic events. Asian Boxing Confederation Secretary-General Ali Salama noted that the championship offers a vital platform for identifying promising talents and enhancing sporting ties among nations.

Sixteen Asian teams are taking part in the championship, including delegations from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, India, the UAE, Iraq, Palestine, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Iran, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, in addition to the Jordanian national team. The Ukrainian national team is also participating as a guest team. Matches are being officiated by an international refereeing panel.

The tournament is organized in coordination with the Jordan Boxing Federation, the Asian and International Boxing Federations, and supported by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army, the Public Security Directorate, the Ministry of Interior, the Greater Amman Municipality, and the Jordan Olympic Committee.

This championship serves as a key preparatory event for the Jordanian national team ahead of the Asian Games in Bahrain next October and the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics. Jordan is fielding 36 athletes in this tournament as part of its broader development program. Petra