NEW DELHI: Indian boxing has been mired in administrative chaos in a year when its focus should have been on preparations for two major multi-sport events – the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Asian Games In Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Instead, the sport is now locked in a bitter standoff between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), leaving the country’s elite boxers uncertain about their futures and selection prospects.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The latest flashpoint came on Sunday when the SAI directed the BFI to halt the proposed evaluation test – effectively the final selection test for the CWG and Asian Games teams – until further orders. The trial was originally scheduled to be held at NS NIS Patiala from May 11 to 15 but was later shortened to May 11 to 13 and has now been suspended.
The move adds to a growing conflict between the two governing bodies over selection policies, assessment criteria, the composition of selection committees and the selection of coaches and support staff. While the SAI has questioned the transparency and fairness of the BFI’s proposed evaluation system, the federation insists that all procedures have been shared with and approved by the SAI during the Annual Calendar of Training and Competition (ACTC) meetings.SAI, however, remains unconvinced.In a strongly worded communication sent to the BFI leadership on Sunday from the office of TOPS chief executive NS Johal, SAI raised a number of objections to the federation’s evaluation framework. TOI has a copy of the communication.According to the email, the SAI noted that “to date, details regarding the proposed evaluation process and matrix regarding technical and tactical aspects have not been clarified.” It further sought details from the High Performance Unit (HPU), including the names, qualifications and certificates of those involved in evaluating athletes during the national training camps.The letter also questioned the proposed list of coaches and support staff identified for the camp, the criteria used by the BFI coaching committee to select them, and whether any coaches associated with the national camp were also involved in the selection or evaluation process – something the SAI had earlier warned against to avoid favoritism and conflicts of interest.The authority further clarified that the costs associated with conducting trials or evaluations must be borne entirely by the National Sports Federation (NSF).“In view of the fact that a week has elapsed since the last communication, the BFI has still not provided the required information and the absence of a transparent and fair trial system for team selection, you are hereby instructed not to proceed with the assessment/trial until further orders are received,” the communication added.The controversy has also reignited tensions surrounding the second edition of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Cup to be held at the ASI in Pune from March 30 to April 5. The BFI has designated the championship as the official route into national camps, with gold and silver medalists in 20 categories qualifying directly for the final selections.But SAI refused to recognize the event, calling it a “closed-door” competition. As a result, nearly 40 prize-winning boxers were effectively excluded from the selection process.Several medalists are now preparing to approach delhi high courtare required to participate in tryouts and have a fair chance to compete for national selection.These include 2021 World Championships silver medalist Deepak Bhoria and defending Asian champion Sanjeet, both of whom won medals at the COAS Cup. “As an athlete, I am exhausted and disappointed,” Boria and Sangeet said in a joint statement. “The BFI has said that the COAS Cup gold and silver medalists will join the national camp and become part of the CWG and Asian Games pathways. I won the gold medal at the COAS Cup, but the list of medalists and the selection process are still unclear.“
