24 July,2016 12:49 PM IST | | PTI
Vijender wants end to Indian boxing mess and says country’s boxers are denied a voice at international events due to current predicament
Vijender Singh
New Delhi: Worried about the administrative logjam in Indian boxing, recently-crowned WBO Asia Pacific champion Vijender Singh yesterday pleaded with the officials to put together a new federation at the earliest for the sake of country's pugilists.
Vijender Singh, who recently won the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title on July 16. Pic/getty Images
Speaking at the ASSOCHAM conference, Vijender said the country's boxers have been denied a voice at international events because of the current situation. "Our country does not have a boxing federation since last three to four years. (An) ad-hoc committee is presently running boxing. Earlier, we had Abhay Singh Chautala as the Boxing Federation president for 10 to 12 years, things went well, but later the court case started and since then we don't have any federation.
"I want India to have a federation again and anyone including (national coach Gurbax Singh) Sandhu Sir can become president of it but a federation is required which can fight for the rights of the boxers," said Vijender.
In 2012, the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was terminated. Ever since, an ad-hoc committee appointed by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) is administering the sport.
Boxers getting affected
This logjam has affected Indian Boxing as only three boxers have qualified for Rio Olympics as compared to eight during the London Olympics. Singh called on the country to pray for the athletes going to Rio. "They have done their work and are representing India. Now, it's our turn to support them. Whether they bring a medal or not, we need to pray for them. I have represented the country in the Olympics and I know what it feels when people cheer and we don't need anything else," he said.
