IBA Women's World Boxing Championships: Russian national anthem played incorrectly during medal ceremony

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The Russian national anthem was played incorrectly during one of the medal ceremonies of the Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on Saturday. The national anthem was being played for Russian gold medallist Demurchian Anastasiia, who later, along with Russian staff, protested the national anthem being played wrong.

A Boxing Federation of India (BFI) spokesperson told Mykhel that there was a meeting between IBA and Indian federation officials on the matter while BFI further clarified that the tournament's local organising committee took the national anthem from the Russian staff and handed it over to IBA's team before checking it. The official added that IBA are doing an investigation on the matter.

"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," BFI spokesperson.

Following the protest from the Russian contingent, there was also an apology from the announcer at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall at the end of the event on Saturday. Anastasiia later stood on the podium alone as the correct Russian national anthem was played for her. The Russian defeated Australia's Scott Kaye Frances to win gold in the 70kg category.

The incident happened at a time when there has been controversy surrounding the international boxing body's (IBA) decision to allow Russian and Belarussian boxers to compete under their national colours at the World Championships in New Delhi despite objections from other sporting bodies and countries.

USA, Britain, among other major nations, pulled out of the tournament as well in protest as IBA, chaired by Russian Umar Kremlev, remained firm on its stance. International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been in favour of Russian athletes competing at the world stage but has kept its ban on Russian flags, symbols and anthem.