Winning Punch: Indian Boxers Get Reprieve From AIBA

Winning Punch: Indian Boxers Get Reprieve From AIBA
AIBA president C. K. Wu has issued a statement indicating that the new entity, Boxing India has been selected and approved unanimously for provisional membership. This is a major reprieve for Indian boxers who will be able to take part in the Asian Games unde their national flag. The sport's amateur world governing body AIBA has now given provisional recognition to the new federation.

The former Indian Boxing Federation had been suspended by the AIBA in the year 2012 for not taking the proper procedures during the elections. It was following the elevation of the previous president Abhay Singh Chauthala to the post of chairman of the body through these elections that led to the suspension of IBF.

The election of Chauthala as the president of the IOA (Indian Olympic Association) during the same week in December 2012 also led to the suspension of this body by the International Olympic Committee. The IOA was reinstated for the Olympics during the Sochi Winter Games following the election of new officials. It seems a travesty that a selection of a single individual continued for so long and the IOA went through a long period of suspension as a result of it.

"I would like to emphasise the importance of managing Boxing India in the most transparent, fair, democratic manner and most importantly in the respect of all AIBA rules and regulations," Wu was quoted as saying. He also advised Boxing India to apply for an affiliation to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), according to media reports.

The National Olympic Committee was prevented by AIBA from conducting the elections for Boxing India for which it then refused to send an observer to the poll. Therefore the suggestion for affiliation to IOA could stir up trouble. However, Indian boxers have been going it alone for some time now and they have competed mostly as independent players during the suspension rather than playing under the banner of the country.

This has demotivated many of the Indian boxers. Well known Indian lady boxing champion Mary Kom also spoke of how demoralised and depressed the Indian boxers had been at being unable to play for their nation. But now this is going to change.

Hopefully, with AIBA's support, Boxing India will be able to get past the politics and get into the pure arena of sports once again. Boxers from the Indian contingent have done the nation proud so many times. It is now time for the government and the international as well as national organisations to extend support to them and give them the motivation to play well for their country.

Sports is an area where politics is inevitable. Indeed, even companies have organisational politics. There is no running away from it. But facing it and finding solutions is the best way out. Only then can the jock tale have a happy ending it deserves.