Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 19
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Boxing India (BI) are heading for another showdown to get control of Indian boxing.
It's no secret that both the sports bodies do not see eye-to-eye on various issues.
On Friday, IOA once again asserted its functional authority when it rejected BI's application for recognition as the national federation at its Annual General Body Meeting in Chennai.
“The body for boxing in India and the body that is recognised by the IOA is IABF. It is the International Boxing Association (AIBA) which has recognised BI and its elections. Neither the government nor IOA sent any observer to the elections. We already have a recognised body in IABF," IOA president N Ramachandran said.
In a clear message to BI, Ramachandran said IOA will continue to recognise its ad-hoc committee, which was formed to select teams for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, and not the AIBA-imposed BI.
The development has left BI "deeply disappointed", but it has vowed to continue its fight to get the recognition. BI secretary, Jay Kowli, said IOA had been creating confusion by continuing to support the ad-hoc committee. "It's very sad to see Indian boxing divided like this. We have failed to understand why IOA is not recognising us. There's no need for this controversy," Kowli told The Tribune.
Kowli said BI will go ahead with its Nationals and will send the entries for the National Games.