Opinion New rules,old problems
Boxing without headguards and the onus it puts on defensive skill will have to be learned on the job.
Cant say, is Coach Gurbax Sandhus stock answer when queried about his teams medal prospects ahead of the World Championships in Astana. With Indian boxing having performed consistently well in the international arena post the 2008 Olympics,Sandhus reply doesnt signify a lack of confidence in his squad. It is merely a way to rationalise expectations. Ahead of his 10-player squads departure for the Championships however,Sandhus answer is perhaps more indicative of the teams prospects than he would admit.
Since the championships in 2011,when an unprecedented four Indians made it to the quarterfinals and Vikas Krishan won Indias only second medal ever,the rules of the game have,however,changed. The introduction of the old 10-point scoring system and removal of headguards marked a seismic shift in the sport. Seven members of the Indian squad will be taking part in their first World Championships,and practically nobody has any sort of experience of what to expect in Astana.
With India lacking a professional culture which is the essence of the current style of boxing,taking part in international competitions becomes a must. But they havent had enough exposure at such levels,a state of affairs which has a lot to do with the Indian Boxing Federation being out of favour with the international body.
Since the Olympics,the senior boxers would have only been able to participate in a maximum two international tournaments (invitational events in Cyprus and Russia and the Asian Championships). Vijender Singh hasnt taken part in either. A pre-World Championship camp in Kazakhstan also fell through last month.
Boxing without headguards and the onus it puts on defensive skill will have to be learned on the job.
According to a senior coach,success in boxing is an incremental process — getting experience,correcting failures and then preparing better for subsequent competitions. No amount of training can prepare for the actual clash in the ring and the lessons learnt there.
While the skill of some Indian boxers and the experience of others can take them past lesser opponents,in a stage as prestigious as the World Championships that wont be an option.
Jonathan is a senior correspondent,based in New Delhi. jonathan.selvaraj@expressindia.com
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