Indian boxers running risk of being barred from Oly

None has qualified so far but even if they do in due course, Indian boxers are “running the risk” of being barred from this year’s Olympic Games if the country fails to put together a new national federation by next month’s Asian Olympic Qualifiers.

This is the latest missive from the International Boxing Association (AIBA) after a meeting of its various commissions in Manchester recently.

According to sources, the world body will not hesitate to stop Indians from participating in the August extravaganza in Rio de Janeiro should they make the cut through the Asian Qualifiers starting March 23 in Qian’an city of China.

“There is a lot of pressure on India now to get a federation going. They (AIBA) have given India time till the Asian Qualifiers. In case, it doesn’t happen then the country is running the risk of not moving forward,” a source told PTI. “Our boxers who qualify could be stopped from the Olympics,” he said.

So far, no Indian boxer has qualified for the Olympics and most are pinning their hopes on the Asian Qualifiers.