Boxing team to decide action on Vikas' ouster after meeting

The Indian boxer's win was overturned by the AIBA on fouls committed by him during the match

Stunned by Vikas Krishan's ouster from the Olympic Games following a reversal of decision by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), Indian Chef-de-Mission P K Muralidharan Raja today said the country's contingent will not take AIBA's decision lying down even though it has "limited options" in the matter.

In a stunning reversal of fortunes, Vikas (69kg) was ousted after AIBA overturned the result of his pre-quarterfinal bout, that he had won, following a review.

The 20-year-old had won 13-11 over Errol Spence in a thrilling contest last night but following an appeal by his rival's team management, the AIBA awarded the bout 15-13 to the American, citing the fouls committed by the Indian, which were not noticed by the referee.

Raja, also the Indian Boxing Federation's Secretary General, said the team will not accept the decision.

"I will be meeting the Indian boxing team at 10:00 am (2:30pm IST) and then we will decide the future course of action," Raja told PTI.

"The decision has been overturned but it's not as if we cannot do anything about it," he insisted.

But Raja admitted that there were not too many options in front of the team after the world body's review and reversal of the original decision.

"In such cases, the jury decision is final. Because they replay the bout and go through it very closely before deciding whether to stick to the original decision or overturn it. Not many options are there but let's see. We will still try to find a way forward," he said.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) also came out in support of Vikas and condemned the decision of AIBA.

"IOA condemns this decision. This result should be strongly taken up by the Indian contingent and unitedly protested and reviewed," IOA vice-President Tarlochan Singh told PTI.

"There are four different judges and they make their separate decisions. It is baffling why none of them objected to this. Four people have given verdicts and it is wrong for USA to appeal after the decision has been given," he added.

Vikas' father Krishan Kumar said, "It is totally wrong. I had a word with him after he was declared winner and then we went to sleep. It is only in the morning that we saw that the decision has been overturned.The officials of the Indian team they should protest against this decision and he should be reinstated. If this is not protested, it will affect the moral of the boxers. I also want to request Sports Minister Ajay Maken to take it up with USA and help it to be overturned," he added.