It’s almost like Indian boxing has hit a ‘permanent roadblock’. Forget talking about the performances of our boxers, the one thing that has generated a great deal of uncertainty over the future of the sport over a long while now is when will the country have a boxing federation in place?
The prospect of Indian boxers not taking part in the 2016 Rio Olympics or at least the possibility of our pugilists not participating under the national flag is appearing like a ‘reality’ given the AIBA-constituted ad-hoc committee has been able to identify an entity to run the affairs of boxing in the country.
It is important to understand that Boxing India was provisionally suspended in September 2015 and since then the AIBA-constituted ad-hoc committee has not been able to put a federation in place.
To make things difficult for Indian boxing, the world body is learnt to have asked the AIBA-constituted ad-hoc committee to put a federation in place sooner than later or else India could miss out on participating in the Rio Olympics or may at best get to box under the AIBA flag.
“Things are not looking good. Youngsters are frustrated with no tournaments happening and worse, these youngsters are not seeing any future in the sport,” says a national level coach.
Indian boxers are potential medals prospects at Rio – the likes of Devendro Singh, Shiva Thapa and Vikash Krishnan - can outbox any opponent on their day and in case our boxers are not able to take part in the Olympics, it will be a big blow for sure. “Boxers are doing their job, training hard and coming up with performances in tournaments – what more they can do?” asks the coach.
The AIBA-constituted ad-hoc committee chairman Kishen Narsi says a meeting will be held in New Delhi next week to discuss ways to put a federation in place. “Hopefully we will be able to put a body in place. We still have some time left for the Olympics. Keeping my fingers crossed.”
Time is running out for Indian boxing and one hopes that the world body would offer a window for the boxers to take the ring in Rio under the national flag.
