Representative image (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: In a year when it was supposed to focus on preparing for two major multi-sport events – the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Indian boxing has been mired in administrative turmoil. Instead, the sport is now mired in a bitter dispute between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), leaving the country’s elite boxers uncertain about their future and selection prospects.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The latest flashpoint came on Sunday when the SAI ordered the BFI to halt the proposed evaluation tests – essentially the final selection trials for the CWG and Asian Games teams – until further orders. The trials, originally scheduled for May 11-15 and later shortened to May 11-13 at NS NIS Patiala, are now suspended.
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How Sawan Barwal broke India’s longest running record and still wanted moreThe move intensified the growing conflict between the two governing bodies over selection policies, assessment criteria, the composition of the selection committee and the involvement of coaches and support staff. While the SAI questions the transparency and fairness of the BFI’s proposed grading system, the federation claims that all procedures were shared and approved by the SAI during the Annual Training and Competition Calendar (ACTC) meetings.However, the Supreme Audit Office remains unconvinced.In a strongly worded communication sent by the office of TOPS CEO NS Johal to the BFI management on Sunday, the SAI raised several objections to the federation’s assessment framework. TOI has a copy of the communication.According to the mail, the SAI pointed out that “the details of the evaluation process and the matrix proposed for the technical and tactical aspects have not yet been clarified.” She also sought details of the High Performance Unit (HPU), including the names, qualifications and credentials of those who would be involved in the evaluation of athletes during the national camp.The release also questioned the proposed list of coaches and support staff earmarked for the camp, the criteria used by the BFI Coaches Commission to select them and whether any coach associated with the national camp was also part of the selection or evaluation process – something the SAI had previously warned against favoritism and conflicts of interest.The authority further clarified that the costs associated with conducting the tests or evaluations will have to be borne entirely by the National Sports Federation (NSF).“Given that the requested information will not be provided by the BFI even after one week of previous correspondence, and in view of the lack of transparent and fair system of conduct of trials for team selection, you are hereby requested not to proceed with the evaluation/trials until further orders,” the statement added.The controversy also reignited tensions over the 2nd Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Cup, which was held from March 30 to April 5 at the ASI in Pune. The BFI designated the tournament as an official pathway to the national camp, with gold and silver medalists in 20 categories gaining direct eligibility for the finals.However, SAI refused to recognize the event, calling it a “closed-door” competition. As a result, almost 40 medalist boxers were effectively excluded from the selection process.Several medalists are now preparing to go to the Delhi High Court demanding inclusion in the trials and a fair opportunity to compete for national selection.Among those expressing disappointment are 2021 World Championship silver medalist Deepak Bhoria and reigning Asian champion Sanjeet, who both won medals at the COAS Cup. “As an athlete, I am exhausted and disappointed,” Bhoria and Sanjeet said in a joint statement. “The BFI has said that the gold and silver medalists of the COAS Cup will join the national camp and be part of the CWG and Asian Games tour. I won gold in the COAS Cup, but there is still no clarity on the list of medalists and the selection process.”
