The 8th edition of West Zone Boxing Council Championships was organised on December 19-20, 2008 at Sports Complex, Diu in a grand manner.
The hon’ble collector of Diu Mr Sanjay Goel IAS inaugurated this annual championships meet of India's West Zonal Boxing Council on 19th December to commemorate the Liberation Day of Daman & Diu from Portuguese rule. Entire town of Diu was decorated & wore a festive look as Diu Festival was organised with great fanfare.
Total no of 48 boxers from all the Western Council’s affiliated units participated & put a grand show of combative skills in the roped square specially built for this prestigious Boxing meet of India’s western states & UTs. . . . Rajasthan, Gujrat, Diu & Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Maharashtra & Goa. Teams participated enthusiastically in a meet that saw Maharashtra BA Team retaining its total supremacy for the consecutive 8th time. To finish on top spot Maharashtra overtook Goa at last bout with whom they were at tie with equal points of 25 each till the last bout of the meet started off. Goa team with 10 Boxers in the fray finished the close second and minnows D&D overtook Rajsthan & Gujrat to clinch the 3rd spot !
‘A baby of Jay Kowli, as it is unofficially called, the meet was hosted & won by Maharashtra all througout since its inception . . . the 1st meet was initiated by by Jay Kowli in his last year as Jt Secretary MBA at Rizvi College Campus, Bandra, Mumbai in January 2002.
Extraordinary performance by MBA boxers Vinit Kotian, Sameer Shaikh, Sidharth Verma, Anil Khushwah & Salman Shaikh saw only 6 boxers clinching the top spot by capturing all 5 Golds that they competed finals alongwith a Bronze by Hitesh Nindane who lost to India International Santosh Harijan of Goa the eventual winner in their weight class. Goa's . . . . . was given the Best Boxer award as Rajasthan's Shine Abraham & Daman & Diu's Jeki Solanki were honored with Best Loser & Most Promising Boxer awards respectively
WZBC President & senior Indian boxing functionary Mr I D Nanavati & Secretary General Mr Jay Kowli as India’s grade I referee & judges handled the responisbility of Jury as they also conducted Seminar Workshop for participating Referee & Judges. Goa’s European Coach honoured the ‘Founder’ of West Zone Mr Jay Kowli with a Calendar as Mr Kowli presented him with a poster of 1st AIBA World Cup Moscow 2008 as return gift. D&D Olympic Ass’n Mr S D Modasia promised allout support as D&D President Mr I T Sheth proposed to host next year’s WZBC at Diu on same dates. Looking at their keen interest & enthusiasm Jay Kowli promised continuous support to this newly improved island unit with more camps & equipment support.
Thanks to Galaxy School, Diu Administration & hosts of large hearted sponsors & suppoerters, Diu wore a festive look as Diu Festival was celebrated by all & sundry with great fanfare !