Ditched by state units, boxers make cut for Asian meet

The International Boxing Association-appointed ad hoc committee on Thursday showed the state units who is boss when it picked two boxers for the Women's Asian Championships who were serving suspensions for life imposed by their respective state associations.

Uttarakhand's Priyanka Choudhary (60kg) and Pooja Rani Bohra (75kg) from Haryana were suspended for life for disobeying orders and skipping the National Games in Kerala in February-March. The duo is part of 10-member Indian team which will participate at the Asian meet in Wulanchabu, China, from August 5-14.

"I am very excited to be picked for the Asians. I was disheartened when Uttarakhand suspended me for skipping the National Games. But BI gave me a chance to continue at the national camp. I worked hard and it paid dividends," Priyanka, who won a bronze at the 2010 Asian meet, told Mail Today.

"I used to fight in the 57kg category and have recently switched to 60kg since it's one of the three categories at the Olympics."

Pooja, who won a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games, will go for her second medal at the Asian Championships, after a silver at the 2012 edition of the event.

The boxers skipped the National Games since the then national body - Boxing India (BI) - had threatened participant pugilists with suspension as the Games were not sanctioned by it and were organised under the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) banner.

The state units, governed by IOA-recognised state Olympic bodies, had also threatened the boxers with suspension for skipping the National Games.

Many boxers, trapped in the crossfire between BI and state units, preferred to side with the former as it was their parent body. Those who went with BI were assured of participation in future tournaments and national camps.

Last month, AIBA took matters into its hands and formed an ad hoc body. However, two of the members of this body - chairman Kishen Narsi and Jay Kowli were vice-president and secretary general in BI. Now, the ad hoc body has shown the state units that it's the only authority in boxing matters in India.

Squad: Sarjubala Devi Shamjetsabam (48 Kg), Pinki Rani(51 Kg), Meena Kumari Devi Maisnam (54 Kg), Pwilao Basumatary (57 Kg), Priyanka Chauhdary(60 Kg), Pavitra (64 Kg), Monica Saun (69 Kg), Pooja Rani (75 Kg), Saweety (81 Kg), Seema Poonia (+81 Kg).