3-year ban leaves Gujarat boxers stranded

Ahmedabad’s boxers alleged that Surat had fielded boxers from other states — the meet was to serve as selection trials for the national event starting August 25.

Now, the GSBA plans to pick a list of contestants at random, from elsewhere in Gujarat. The IABF, meanwhile, is awaiting a report on the incident before taking a decision—either way. And the boxers are stuck midway.

Says IABF secretary Col PK Muralidharan Raja: “The state unit is within its rights to cancel the meet. I am yet to receive a full report. But if there is a grievance of any sort due to which a player’s career could be affected, he or the district unit could address the issue with the Gujarat State Olympic Association (GSOA). They have the authority to resolve the issue or even cancel the ban,” he said.

Boxers involved in the July 15 tussle are not very hopeful as GSABA chief Nanavati also heads the GSOA.

So what happened on July 15 at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium? Ahmedabad coach Maksud Ali Khan, says Surat had fielded players from Delhi and Jharkhand. His team protested and prevented their rivals’ entries from being processed. The argument turned into a huge brawl.

The GSABA general body decided trials will not be held. One Ahmedabad boxer says, “I was not involved in the scuffle. I just watched it from outside. Now, for no fault of mine, I have been banned.”