The BFI will issue a statement soon because it is up to the federation to make selection-related decisions.
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Despite statements by Bernard Dunne, the high-performance director of Indian boxing, that he had eliminated selection trials, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has emphasized that they would still take place. Although Dunne had previously chosen a team for the men’s World Championships in Tashkent and had offered an evaluation exam every week to determine ranks, his idea has not yet been accepted or rejected. A committee was established at the annual general meeting of the federation to conclude the trials and championship selection process.
Before the World Championship, a few female boxers had filed lawsuits contesting the evaluation exam. Hence, the BFI does not want to encounter a situation like this again. The BFI will issue a statement soon because it is up to the federation to make selection-related decisions. In addition, Dunne stated during his news conference that Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain would represent India in the forthcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, which will serve as the first Olympic qualifying event for the Paris Olympics 2024. However, in accordance with the BFI’s selection guidelines, boxers who win gold or silver at the World Championships will be chosen automatically for the opening Olympic qualifier at the Asian Games, along with trials for any further weight divisions.
It is significant to note that Dunne’s statements were made on his own behalf and were not supported by the BFI. The decision regarding whether to accept Dunne’s plan or continue holding trials will be made by a committee after it has had a chance to consider his idea for a boxer evaluation exam. The group, which will include senior representatives from the BFI and its selection committee, will review the suggestion made by Dunne, who called for a weekly evaluation exam to determine boxers’ rankings.
The decision to send Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain to the Asiad based on their performance at the Worlds will be made by the BFI based on the committee’s recommendations and after the selection criteria have been finalized. It was also emphasized that the policy posted on the BFI website was not the final version and had not been approved by the general house members.
The Asian Games 2022, which were scheduled to be held in 2022, was postponed due to an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Hangzhou. Hence, the event will now be held from September 23 to October 8, 2023. In the last edition of the Asian Games, which took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2018, India finished eighth winning 15 gold, 24 silver, and 30 bronze medals.
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