Participation in Nationals compulsory for CWG selection

The Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) on Tuesday said that all the boxers, notwithstanding their reputation, had to take part in the National championship in July in order to be eligible for the selection of the Commonwealth Games squad.

Following an executive board meeting of the federation here, IBF Secretary-General Col. P.K. Muralidharan Raja said a different method would be adopted instead of picking boxers from just one-off selection trial.

No relaxation

“All the boxers in the core group of Commonwealth Games will have to participate in the National championship. Participation is compulsory. Unless somebody is medically unfit, there would be no relaxation,” Co. Raja said.

“It is not that you have to win a medal in the Nationals to be eligible for the Games trials, but participation is compulsory,” he added.

According to Col. Raja, the IBF would take into account the track record of a boxer in international tournaments and training sessions, his performance in the Nationals and his showing in the selection trials (to be held in the first week of September) before selecting him.

The IBF regulation, to be put in the federation website sooner than later, will ensure the participation of some star boxers, who have been skipping the National championship for several years, in the event.

Col. Raja said during the Nationals, the IBF would give a token incentive to a boxer for winning each bout.

He said the IBF was trying to hire a foreign coach for the women boxers and he would be appointed by mid-June.

Among other important topics, the IBF focused on providing decent accommodation and food to the boxers during a National championship of any level and beginning the effort of building a ‘Boxing Bhawan' — a permanent abode for the federation.