Save boxing Fix the system

Chandigarh, August 31

Eight years after Vijender Singh’s landmark gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, it’s clear that Indian boxing has long lost momentum. This was evident at Rio, where former teen phenom Vikas Krishan Yadav was beaten by a 20-year-old Uzbek in their 75kg quarterfinal, while Shiva Thapa (56kg) and Manoj Kumar (64kg) were beaten at earlier stages. 

The trio had got tough draws — Thapa and Manoj lost to eventual gold medallists, while Yadav was beaten by the eventual silver medallist. Worse, they and Indian boxing have had some tough luck over the past few years: The boxing association remains suspended since 2012, and thus India’s boxers are not invited to training-competition events in countries such as Cuba, Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan. 

Currently, an ad-hoc committee administers boxing in India after the national federation was terminated by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) in 2012.

Accountability

Vijender, who’s now a pro and thus a free bird, can now speak his mind about the state of Indian boxing. He’s been exposed to new and professional training methods in England, and he wants things to change on the Indian boxing front. “There has to be some accountability. First there should be a federation and secondly there should be action against officials and coaches who are responsible for the current state of Indian boxing,” Vijender said.

“As for the roadmap ahead, the coaching staff should be overhauled,” he added. “What’s the problem? The schedule in the national camp has not changed for so many years. We need fresh ideas. If we have to move forward, we have to be ruthless and change the system.”

Mary Kom, the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist, agrees. She said the absence of a recognised Indian boxing association is damaging the sport in India. “Having a federation is an absolute must. Once it is done, we can have qualified coaches to improve performance,” said Mary Kom. “Good foreign coaches can be hired so that there is a new exchange of ideas and the coaches should also maintain discipline in the camp.”

Getting ideas

Gurbax Singh Sandhu is the chief national coach at present, and there’s no foreign coach — Cuba’s BI Fernandes, a highly respected coach, was suspended after the 2014 Asian Games over the “indiscipline” of L Sarita Devi, who had refused to accept her bronze medal on the podium. Sandhu is a fatherly figure for the team and combines the roles of a coach, manager and motivator. 

Akhil Kumar, Indian boxing’s original hero of the 2000s, said that the coaching staff should be changed. “I fully agree with Vijender on accountability,” he said. “Besides, the coaching staff should also be changed. They have been around for a very long time and I think now it is time to look for something new. Just as boxers are selected through trials, the coaches should also be able to prove themselves.”

Ali Qamar, who became India’s first-ever gold-medallist in CWG boxing (2002, Manchester), agreed. “The coaching staff needs overhaul. The pattern of training hasn’t changed for last many years,” he said. “Simply going out for training trips is not enough, we need fresh inputs in the national camp. A change in the coaching staff can do that. And if we have to go for a foreign coach, bring someone who is accomplished and has the Olympic experience.” 

Foreign hand

“Don’t we go out to study?” Vijender asked. “Then what’s the harm in getting foreign expertise to our national camp? If there are people out there who are good and have the credentials, what is the harm in trying them out?”

“We also need people with expertise in sports medicine. We need experts in mental conditioning to deal with the psychological aspect of boxing,” he added. “And we need a massive change in our training pattern. Why can’t we explore places other than Patiala for training? What’s the harm in having camps at high altitude places like Leh-Ladakh? I remember a camp being held in Shilaroo (Himachal Pradesh) once and it was a good experience. I don’t know why it wasn’t considered again.” 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has talked about setting up a Task Force to prepare Indian athletes for the next three Olympic Games. It would be useful, too, if he examined the case of Indian boxing, which was on a steep upward curve from 2006 to 2010, only to plateau and decline since 2012. — TNS, with PTI inputs