The women’s national boxing championship to be held in Greater Noida this week is set to commence under the shadow of fierce internal squabble within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) whose key officials are at loggerheads in the run-up to the March 28 elections.
The tournament was postponed twice this year, and BFI president Ajay Singh claimed that an attempt is being made by some officials to stop boxers from participating in the championships.
The tournament will take place from March 21-27 at the Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida. Singh said BFI secretary general Hemanta Kumar Kalita, who was suspended on Tuesday on charges of “financial irregularities” and subsequent investigation, is exerting pressure on boxers from Assam, including Tokyo Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain, to withdraw from the Nationals. Kalita is also the secretary of Assam Amateur Boxing Association.
The build-up to the BFI elections has been chaotic and the administrative wrangling has impacted the women’s championship.
