New Delhi: The ongoing tussle between Boxing India (BI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has now reached such a level that it may severely affect the progress of country’s top pugilists.
In 2014, Indian boxers performed creditably in the international arena by winning medals in the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
BI had the backing of the AIBA, but suffered a setback after IOA refused to recognize the newly-formed body and continued to back the ad-hoc committee of the now defunct Indian Amateur Boxing Association (IABF).
The IOA has now said the boxing events of the National Games starting January 31 in Kerala will be organized under the ad-hoc committee.
Unperturbed, the BI has declared the National Championship will be held in Nagpur from the second week of January. Sources in the BI said it may also issue a diktat that the participants in the National Games will not be considered for selection of the national teams in future.
“Those who would play under the ad-hoc committee banner in the National Games should not expect themselves to be eligible for the Indian teams,” said a senior BI official.
There are reports that some of the top boxers might skip both the National Championship and the National Games next month to stay clear of the controversy. Such a move would not only hamper their career but would also severely restrict of the selectors’ options to pick up talented boxers for the national camp.
The BI is now expecting the AIBA to retaliate. “We don’t want any confrontation with the IOA. We are sure the AIBA would take a note of the development and initiate a dialogue with the International Olympic Committee,” said a BI official.
