In Asia’s Corner: Thoughts from the President

The Olympic Dream Begins with Opportunity

One of the greatest privileges of serving as President of Asian Boxing is knowing that the decisions we make today can help shape an athlete’s future tomorrow.

As we celebrate Olympic Day, I find myself thinking less about the Olympic Games themselves and more about the journey that leads there.

Every athlete’s story begins differently.

Some grow up in major cities with access to facilities, competitions and support. Others begin with very little. Different backgrounds. Different challenges. Different starting points.

But when an athlete steps through the ropes, none of that matters.

What matters is their discipline, their courage and their determination to improve.

That is why opportunity matters.

Our responsibility at Asian Boxing is not to decide who will become a champion. Our responsibility is to ensure that every athlete has the opportunity to pursue that dream.

Today, we are working closely with World Boxing, the Olympic Movement and our National Federations across the continent to build clear pathways for athletes at every stage of their journey. From youth competitions to continental championships and, ultimately, to the Olympic Games, our goal is to create opportunities that allow talent to be discovered, developed and supported.

In just a few days, hundreds of young athletes will travel to Indonesia for the Asian Boxing U19 & U23 Boxing Championships Jakarta 2026. For many, it will be another step in their journey. For some, it will be their first major international championship. Years from now, some of those athletes may stand on the world’s biggest stages, but today they are simply young people chasing a dream.

That dream deserves support. It deserves fair competition. It deserves transparent governance.

It deserves access to quality events, qualified officials, development programmes and the resources needed to help athletes reach their potential.

This is why the work of Asian Boxing extends far beyond competition days. Whether we are developing new initiatives, strengthening support for National Federations, expanding opportunities for athletes or preparing for the upcoming Athletes’ Committee elections, our focus remains the same: ensuring that athletes have a voice and a pathway forward.

I believe the future of boxing in Asia is incredibly bright. Not because of what we have already achieved, but because of what is still possible.

Every championship we organize, every programme we develop and every decision we make should answer one simple question:

How does this help the next generation?

Because somewhere in Asia today, a young boxer is dreaming of representing their country. They may not know exactly how they will get there. They may not know what challenges lie ahead.

Our job is to make sure the pathway exists.
To create opportunities.
To remove barriers.
And to ensure that talent, dedication and hard work have the chance to shine.

That is what Olympic Day means to me.

Not a celebration of what has already been achieved, but a reminder of our responsibility to those who are still chasing their dreams.

Sincerely your president and always in your corner,
Pichai Chunhavajira