Rival faction submits vision for Indian boxing to AIBA

After staking its claim to form the new Indian Boxing Federation, the faction led by former secretary general P K Muralidharan Raja has now submitted its vision document to the International Boxing Association, promising to implement AIBA proposals on various issues within six months of taking over.

The group, which claims to have the backing of 23 of the 35 states and units, has outlined its plan for Indian boxing over the next five years and beyond.

"We would like to reassure all boxers, officials and boxing fans in the country that we shall leave no stone unturned to restore the sport to its original glory as soon as the present situation gets cleared up," Brig (Retd) Raja, who is also the convener of the group, said.

Raja said the document submitted to AIBA highlights the "workforce and minds behind 'Boxing India', their credentials, their vision and most importantly their plans to revive the sagging morale of the Indian boxers and get back quickly to the pending tasks in hand".

The AIBA, while terminating India from the international fold earlier this month, had sought applications from groups and individuals keen to help in the formation of a new federation.

"...acclaimed Arjuna Awardees and boxers of repute will form the backbone of the selection committee of the new boxing federation to identify and select boxers in Men & Women Division of Senior (Elite), Junior (Youth) and Sub Junior (Cadet) categories at various National Boxing Championships and other All India Tournaments so as to be trained at National Coaching Camps as well as Zonal Coaching Camps," Raja stated.

"They will also be responsible to select Indian teams for all major competitions such as Olympic qualifying events, world championships, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other international competitions."

The group, which has included Olympic heroes Vijender Singh and M C Mary Kom in its athletes commission, has promised to hold free and fair elections for various posts within the governing council of the new Indian Boxing Federation within the first six months of taking over.

It also plans to amend the IABF constitution to be in line with AIBA's requirements within this period. The other promises made in the vision document are conduct of national championships, zonal championships and state championships within one year.

Revival of "conversations with sponsors and patrons of the federation who have stayed away from the sport for the last 16 months" is also on the group's agenda.

The faction said it also wants to get into talks with AIBA for the revival of the World Series of Boxing franchise in India besides starting the AIBA Professional Boxing programme to have Indian boxers in contention for world fights within the next 18 months.

The group also promises to have at least one major international event in India for both men and women besides vowing to upgrade facilities and training for referees and judges.

After provisionally suspending the IBF on December 6, 2012, AIBA has not recognised any official activities and did not support the Indian officials for almost 16 months.

In its most latest missive, AIBA has stated that it was looking to get clean officials in the IBF after fresh elections. The IBF was suspended for "possible manipulation" in elections