Amid row, 9-member boxing contingent set for nationals

CHANDIGARH:Despite the controversy surrounding the selection procedure, the Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) has cleared a nine-member contingent for the Elite National Boxing Championship at Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Vizag from October 24 to 30.

CK Jerath

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20

Despite the controversy surrounding the selection procedure, the Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) has cleared a nine-member contingent for the Elite National Boxing Championship at Swarna Bharathi Indoor Stadium in Vizag from October 24 to 30.

The contingent comprises boxers whose slection has raised questions.

The CABA president CK Jerath, though, said the sports body had submitted its entry for the championship on October 16, two days before a boxer had moved court, challenging the selection procedure adopted by the association.

“The team has been selected and the entry has already been submitted to the organising committee,” said Jerath.

“The boxer had moved court on October 18 while the entry of the team had been sent to the national committee on October 16,” he said while defending the CABA’s selection.

He, however, chose to remain silent on the objections raised by the boxer against the procedure followed by the sports body to select players for various events. “I don’t want to make any comments on it as the matter is already in the court,” he said.

Meanwhile, the nine-member contingent was supposed to leave for Vizag today as the draw of matches is scheduled on October 23, followed by the bouts on October 24. However, the sources said the group would board the train for Vizag tomorrow and reach the venue on the day weigh-in.

“A total of nine players have been selected (for the event). Only one boxer has been dropped from the 56kg category as he was underage,” said the CABA head.

He also maintained that there was no uncertainty regarding the participation of city’s team in the national.

“The credentials and video footage of the trials along with all the documents have been submitted to the authority concerned…,” he said.

However, when asked about the complaint made by the boxer, Jerath reiterated: “I don’t want to comment on any issue related to the case filed in the court.”