Boxing India Using Money to Get Power, Says Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra
The International Boxing Association's Executive Committee decided to terminate India "due to serious violations of the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws" earlier this year. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran has backed the newly-approved body Boxing India, which is hoping to bring the country back under the Olympic fold.
Launching a scathing attack on the newly-approved 'Boxing India', secretary general of Hockey India, Narinder Batra, on Wednesday accused the ad-hoc association of using money to get power which will have an adverse effect on Indian sport. (Also read: Indian boxers may finally get to compete under tricolour in Olympics)
The chairman of long-time Indian boxing sponsor Monnet Ispat Limited, Sandeep Jajodia, and owner of India's World Series of Boxing franchise, Udit Sheth are part of the consortium which has got the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) nod for provisional representation and is most likely to get formal approval as well. Batra is concerned that the move might set a wrong precedent.
"It is rumoured and trust me there is no smoke without fire, that a big amount has been given to the international federation to formally approve Boxing India as a registered boxing association. I have grave concern because it will directly have a bearing on all the sports bodies in the future," Batra said.
"The reason behind it is that two business houses are working together to form a federation and that itself is questionable. If business houses sponsor a sport, it's fine but displaying this kind of money power to buy and sell federations is a wrong step for Indian sport," added Batra. (Also read: Mary Kom left out of Indian boxing squad for CWG)
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran has backed the new Boxing India and Batra is not at all impressed.
"Not only the government, but our IOA president should also take the issue very seriously. According to our sources, he had gone to Lausanne to settle this matter a month back. He met the AIBA chief Ching-Kuo Wu and his only aim is to bring squash in the Olympic fold. However, he should not sacrifice Indian sports for his vested interests," said Batra.
"President saab if you don't have the spine then please don't spoil Indian sports. Don't ruin Indian sports under IOC and OCA pressure."
It was on March 3 that the AIBA Executive Committee decided to terminate India "due to serious violations of the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws".