Nationals: Losing face,value

The boxers know that there won8217;t be too much of a price to pay. While the IABF says boxers will have to participate in nationals,it is unlikely to be enforced. The seniors also know that while the nationals aren8217;t the only criteria for selection to the national camp,as past performances also play a role. Considering many of the absentees are Olympians,and will undoubtedly get called back to the national camp when it is convened a month after the tournament.

But this also means that the fear of suffering an upset defeat isn8217;t entirely logical. Boxers can8217;t avoid opponents forever and facing an opponent at the nationals means having time to adapt to a style at an event where the stakes are comparatively low. Additionally,a number of top boxers have skipped the nationals in the past even when there wasn8217;t a competition to recover from or prepare for in the future.

As a result of the absences,boxers get to be national champions without being the best in the country. Vijender Singh 8211; by far the best middleweight in the country has left that title vacant for four years. Ultimately it is the worth of the title itself that gets diluted.

Jonathan is a correspondent based in New Delhi

jonathan.selvarajexpressindia.com