New Delhi, Nov 7: Long-serving national youth coach Bhaskar Bhatt is all but certain to take over as the senior women’s head coach before the world championships, for which Olympic bronze-medallist Lovlina Borgohain will remain a direct selection despite the request for a trial by national gold-winner Arundhati Choudhary.
In a conversation with PTI, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) Secretary General Hemanta Kalita said the decision to give Borgohain a direct entry in the 70kg category will not be revisited despite Choudhary’s open letter, seeking a trial citing “the concept of fair play and need to prove oneself each time.”
“There won’t be any trials for the women’s world championship. As decided during the Executive Committee meeting in September, national champions, except for the category in which Lovlina competes, will form the team,” Kalita asserted.
“The decision to give Lovlina direct entry was based on her Tokyo Olympics performance. It will not be changed,” he added.
The women’s world championships is scheduled to take place in December in Istanbul. The 24-year-old Borgohain is a two-time bronze-medallist at the showpiece, while the 19-year-old Choudhary had won a gold in the youth world championships earlier this year.
International Boxing Association (AIBA) President Umar Kremlev might visit India in the second half of this month to discuss the growth of the sport in the country with the national federation.
“His visit to India will be a part of the Asia tour that he plans to undertake this month. He might come here after November 21 or in the last week. It will be about discussing development of boxing,” Kalita said.
Kremlev, who has aggressively pushed for cleaner bouts amid the continuing uncertainty over boxing’s future as an Olympic sport, has been visiting several countries to drive home the message of integrity and grassroots development.
AIBA under him is sanctioning funding for growth projects and has introduced handsome prize money funds for world and continental events. (PTI)
