Forty Indian boxers are facing an uncertain future after being left out of the Sports Authority of India’s sanction letter for the national camp, casting doubt on their chances of competing in the Commonwealth and Asian Games this year.
The omission has raised concerns among athletes who had qualified for the camp based on their performances at the Chief of Army Staff Cup, held from March 30 to April 5. According to the Boxing Federation of India’s selection policy released last December, the top two finishers in each of the 20 weight categories—10 for men and 10 for women—were to be included in the national camp starting April 25. These 40 boxers were then slated to undergo assessment trials to determine India’s squads for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the World Boxing Cup 2.
However, when the BFI received the sanction letter from SAI on April 29, the names of these 40 boxers were missing. The federation has been in constant communication with SAI to resolve the issue but has yet to receive a response. The assessment process, initially scheduled to begin on May 5, has been postponed by a day and will now start on May 6 due to the uncertainty.
One of the affected boxers told PTI: “We were told winning the COAS Cup will get us to the camp. It is the same policy as last year so I don’t know what the issue is. This is the only way of getting into the camp and vying for the CWG and Asian Games as I missed the Nationals due to injury. I am just hoping the sanction letter arrives over the weekend so that I can reach the camp on time and take part in the assessment.”
Under the revised assessment schedule, the process will be conducted in two phases. Strength and conditioning tests will be held on May 6 and 7, followed by sparring bouts from May 11 to 15, using a knockout format to determine final standings across weight categories. The evaluation carries a total of 200 marks, combining technical and non-technical parameters. Non-technical components include attendance, weight management, health management, international potential, and strength and conditioning, while technical assessments are conducted by a panel of evaluators. Rankings within each weight category will be determined through a structured knockout format.
The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, while the Asian Games will be held in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The BFI is working to resolve the issue quickly to ensure the boxers can participate in the selection process and represent India at these prestigious events.
