Bergamasco, whose contract was set to expire this month, informed the BFI and SAI on Wednesday that he will not be continuing in his role.
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Rafaelle Bergamasco, India’s women’s boxing high-performance director who guided Lovlina Borgohain to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, has decided not to renew his contract following a long saga with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). Bergamasco, whose contract was set to expire this month, informed the BFI and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday that he will not be continuing. After a lengthy delay, the BFI offered him a two-month extension.
In a letter to SAI, the Italian said, “I would have loved to continue my work for another Olympic cycle but I was not happy to be forced to accept the 2 months extension offered by BFI and SAI jointly as a solution to push away the present time. I am grateful to SAI and BFI for the opportunity provided for past four years and practically all of us lived like a family here in India working together for our common goals.” Bergamasco had left for his home country of Italy on Wednesday.
“There was no delay over his contract,” BFI secretary-general Hemanta Kalita said. “We have to follow a process. We had written to SAI for a three-month extension for the boxing coaches. He does not want to continue and was looking for a contract till the Paris 2024 Olympics. That is his choice. We are soon going to come out with an advertisement for the post.”
When contacted, Bergamasco reportedly said that he was “hurt and disappointed” by the BFI’s treatment of him. After Borgohain’s Tokyo medal, the Italian returned to India early this month in the hopes of having his contract renewed for the next Olympic cycle. He said he spent three weeks at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here trying to contact the BFI but received no response. He also stated that he had read reports that BFI was looking for a new coach.
“On Tuesday, I spoke to BFI officials and asked them about my contract and they told me to go to Bhopal and attend a coaches’ workshop for two weeks. I said I have been writing letters to BFI president, secretary, asking them about my contract but there was no news, and suddenly within one minute you are asking me to go to Bhopal. I said I want information on my contract. I don’t want to be in this situation because in another couple of days my contract will be over,” Bergamasco said.
“They wrote to SAI that Rafaelle doesn’t not want to go to Bhopal. I told SAI I never said that. I said I don’t have a contract. If you don’t want me, please tell me, I will go, I have no problem, but why you are not responding? You don’t speak to me for 20 days. This is the respect you give me. I did not want to end it like this,” he added.
BFI then got back to Bergamasco reportedly offering a two-month contract. “I told them I don’t want a two-month contract. I have informed SAI. My job here is finished,” the Italian said.
