Sonowal may call meeting to end boxing impasse

The long-dragging administrative logjam in Indian boxing will soon have intervention from Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who might call a meeting of all the "stakeholders" to end the impasse, a delegation of state units who met him here has claimed.
A 15-member delegation, representing the various state units, met the Minister here yesterday, pleading with him to step in and resolve the "crisis".
Indian boxing has been in a state of disarray ever since the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was terminated in 2013 owing to manipulation in elections.
The new body -- Boxing India -- which was formed last year after elections monitored by the International Boxing Association (AIBA), also failed to run the show and its President Sandeep Jajodia and Secretary General Jay Kowli were sacked via a No Confidence Motion.

The sport is currently being administered by an ad-hoc committee appointed by AIBA.
"We are orphans right now and have just one demand that we should get a National Federation. It does not matter what name it is given but there should be a National Federation. Secondly, the boxers deserve to have the National Championships. Even if it takes time to put a new body in place, we should get the go ahead to conduct the National Championships," West Bengal representative Asit Banerjee, who attended the meeting with Sonowal, told PTI.

"The Minister heard us patiently and promised that if necessary, he would call a meeting of all the stakeholders in Indian boxing to figure out a solution. He said the issue is a top priority for him right now. He is waiting for a report from the Sports Authority of India Director General Injeti Srinivas before deciding on the matter," he added.

Interestingly, the terminated IABF's President Abhishek Matoria and Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari were also present in yesterday's meeting with the Minister.
Should the Minister decide to hold a meeting with the stakeholders, it would include representatives from IABF, Boxing India as well as the ad-hoc committee.
"We merely want boxing to start again. The National Championships should happen as soon as possible. We have requested the Minister to get in touch with AIBA and involve them as well so that there is no misunderstanding later on," said Bhandari.