BFI's selection policy shift cost India two World Cup berths as SAI denies clearance

NEW DELHI: India will have no representation in the men’s 75kg and women’s 48kg categories at the World Boxing Cup-2 in Guiyang, China, from June 15-20 after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) refused administrative sanction for Akash Sangwan and Jyoti Gulia, exposing yet another fault line in its ongoing standoff with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). SAI’s primary objection is that BFI altered its selection process after the assessment trials in NIS Patiala without obtaining prior approval. Akash had competed in the 70kg category and lost in the semifinals, while Jyoti exited in the first round of the 51kg event. Subsequently, BFI allowed them to switch to the non-Olympic 75kg and 48kg divisions respectively for the China World Cup. The winners of the trials are going to a Grand Prix event in the Czech Republic. Questioning the move, SAI asked BFI to “review the matter and submit corrected/revised selection committee Minutes,” noting discrepancies between the federation’s decisions and its published selection policy. In giving its administrative sanction earlier this week, SAI omitted the names of Akash and Jyoti rejecting their entries at the govt’s cost while approving a squad comprising nine men and an equal number of women pugilists. A SAI source maintained that if BFI is keen on fielding the two boxers, it could send them at its own expense. “The federation changed the selection policy, informed SAI after taking the decision and then sought approval. Things don’t work like this,” the source said. Defending its stand, BFI argued that its rules do not prohibit a change of weight category and that a May 13 notification had specifically allowed boxers to move to the vacant 75kg and 48kg divisions. It also pointed out that similar transitions had been permitted for major events in the past. Significantly, World Boxing has already approved the entries of both Akash and Jyoti, clearing them to compete, even as SAI’s refusal leaves their participation hanging in the balance.