With the mess in country’s boxing administration lingering on, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) said that the top pugilists may not be able to compete in the upcoming Asian Games under the national flag if the elections are not held as per schedule next month.
SAI director general Jiji Thomson told a press meet on Wednesday that the there was a realistic chance of Indian boxers not taking part in the Games under the country’s flag. ‘There is a realistic chance of Indian boxers not taking part under Indian flag. We have apprehensions that AIBA will not allow them to represent India if the elections (to Boxing India) are not held as scheduled (on September 11),’ Thomson said. ‘Indian boxers took part in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games under the understatnding that elections will be held soon after the CWG. So, I hope the elections are held as per schedule. Otherwise, our boxers may not take part under Indian flag,’ Thomson added.
After many delays, Boxing India, the provisional body entrusted with the responsibility of conducting elections by AIBA after the termination of Indian Boxing Federation in December 2012, has announced September 11 as the new date to hold the polls for the formation of a new federation.
IOA, which has formed an ad-hoc committee to run the some affairs of the sport in the country, has recently written to the world body AIBA to hold elections, saying it has got many complaints from state units.
SAI director general Jiji Thomson told a press meet on Wednesday that the there was a realistic chance of Indian boxers not taking part in the Games under the country’s flag. ‘There is a realistic chance of Indian boxers not taking part under Indian flag. We have apprehensions that AIBA will not allow them to represent India if the elections (to Boxing India) are not held as scheduled (on September 11),’ Thomson said. ‘Indian boxers took part in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games under the understatnding that elections will be held soon after the CWG. So, I hope the elections are held as per schedule. Otherwise, our boxers may not take part under Indian flag,’ Thomson added.
After many delays, Boxing India, the provisional body entrusted with the responsibility of conducting elections by AIBA after the termination of Indian Boxing Federation in December 2012, has announced September 11 as the new date to hold the polls for the formation of a new federation.
IOA, which has formed an ad-hoc committee to run the some affairs of the sport in the country, has recently written to the world body AIBA to hold elections, saying it has got many complaints from state units.