Women boxers wear masks, scarves to guard against smog at Indian championship

Colombian boxer Dayana Cordero covers her face with a cloth after her practice session ahead of AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, India, November 12, 2018. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Women boxers training for a world championships starting in the Indian capital this week are wearing surgical masks, scarves and even T-shirts across their mouths as the level of air pollution rises several times beyond the safe limit.

The AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships is taking place in an indoor stadium from Thursday through to Nov. 24 but teams are complaining about a toxic smog hanging over the city, caused by seasonal burning of crop stubble and emissions from vehicles and industry.