Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has finally put an end to the controversy related to the trials for the Olympic qualifiers.
Santiago Nieva, the high performance director, in an interview with the PTI informed that all women boxers will fight for a place to represent the country for next year’s Olympic Qualifiers in selection trials on December 29-30.
The announcement is also expected to end the controversy between legendary MC Mary Kom and the upcoming pugilist Nikhat Zareen.
In the interview, Santiago Nieva announced that all women boxers who will be allowed to participate in the Olympic qualifiers listed to be held in China in February 2020 will be picked on the basis of their performance in the selection trials.
He added that the decision was taken in the wake of the guidelines that were laid down by the federation ahead of the event in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The guidelines clearly stated that only those women boxers who finished in the top two will be given a direct entry into the Olympic qualifiers.
The decision by BFI has also put an end to the confusion that was set off by its president Ajay Singh’s statement in favour of exempting Mary Kom, who won a bronze in World Championship, from selection trials.
After Singh’s speech, Nikhat had written to the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding him to step into the matter as she demanded a trail against Mary Kom.
Mary, on the other hand, had said that it was BFI’s decision to select players and she would respect the decision taken by the national federation.
It is to be noted that BFI had decided that male boxers who finished on the podium in the World Championships will be sent directly for the Olympic qualifiers, while only gold and silver medalist from the women’s division will be given a direct entry to the event.
