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Brig (retd) P K Muralidharan Raja, the former Secretary General of the Indian Boxing Federation, has submitted a vision document to the International Boxing Association, in which he promises to implement several AIBA proposals within six months of taking over.
The group led by Raja claims to have the backing of 23 out of the 35 states and units, and has planned outlines for Indian boxing over the next five years and beyond.
“We would like to reassure all boxers, officials and boxing fans in the country that we shall leave no stone unturned to restore the sport to its original glory as soon as the present situation gets cleared up,” Brig (retd) Raja said.
Raja, who is also the convener of the group, said that the document submitted by them to the AIBA highlights the “workforce and minds behind ‘Boxing India’, their credentials, their vision and most importantly their plans to revive the sagging morale of the Indian boxers and get back quickly to the pending tasks in hand”.
Earlier this month, the AIBA had terminated India from the international fold and had invited applications from individuals and groups who were keen to help in the formation of a new federation in India.
Raja stated went on to add in his statement, “…Acclaimed Arjuna Awardees and boxers of repute will form the backbone of the Selection Committee of the new Boxing Federation to identify and select boxers in Men & Women Division of Senior (Elite), Junior (Youth) and Sub Junior (Cadet) categories at various National Boxing Championships and other All India Tournaments so as to be trained at National Coaching Camps as well as Zonal Coaching Camps.
“They will also be responsible to select Indian Teams for all major Competitions such as Olympic Qualifying Events, World Championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other International Competitions.”
The group has also promised to hold free and fair elections for various posts of the new Indian Boxing Federation within six months of taking over. The athletic commission of the group also includes Olympic heroes like Vijender Singh and Mary Kom.
The IABF constitution will also be amended to be in line with AIBA’s requirements, within the stipulated time period. The vision document further promises conducting National Championships, Zonal Championships and State Championship within a year of its inception.
Revival of “conversations with sponsors and patrons of the federation who have stayed away from the sport for the last 16 months” is also on the group’s agenda.
The faction also plans on conducting talks with the AIBA regarding the revival of the World Series of Boxing franchise in India, while also planning to start the AIBA Professional Boxing programme which enables Indian boxers to participate in world fights, within the next 18 months.
It also vows to upgrade the facilities along with providing training for referees and judges, while also promising to conduct at least one major international event for both women and men in India.
For the last 16 months, the AIBA has not recognised any official activities by the Indian officials, ever since the suspension of IBF on December 6, 2012.
The IBF was suspended for “possible manipulation” in elections, and the AIBA had stated that it was looking to get clean officials in the IBF after fresh elections.
