Indian boxing fraternity welcomes Mary Kom`s Padma Award

 Sports
Jan 252013
 

Indian boxing fraternity welcomes Mary Kom`s Padma AwardKolkata: M C Mary Kom`s nomination for the coveted Padma Bhushan will motivate budding boxers and it is a huge honour for the North East region of the country, said 2002 CWG silver medallist boxer Som Bahadur Pun.

Mary Kom, who hails from Manipur, won a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics and was tonight named for the third highest civilian award by the Indian government.

“It`s a big achievement for North-East. The news has trickled in when IABF is going through a crisis. I`m sure more and more upcoming boxers will be motivated by this. Mary Kom once again has proved that she`s the pride of North East,” Som Bahadur Pun, who as adjudged the Best Boxer at 2002 Commonwealth Games told PTI from Shillong.

“Being a mother of two, Mary Kom has shown amazing determination to get to highest level. She is dedication personified. Getting a medal in her first ever Olympics and when the women`s boxing was introduced speaks volumes about her achievement,”Pun said.

Indian Boxing Federation (IABF), suspended by AIBA, the world governing body of the game, also welcomed the news.

“It`s not only an achievement but a biggest reward for our efforts to introduce women`s boxing in India way back in 2000 during the Nationals,” Asit Banerjee, IABF vice-president said.

“Mary Kom`s journey started from Kolkata when she first competed in the Open East India Championship held at the South Kolkata Physical Cultural Association in 1999. So I`m the happiest man on earth today,” he said.

PTI

AIBA might act more against IABF if re-election not held soon

 Sports
Dec 162012
 

AIBA might act more against IABF if re-election not held soonNew Delhi: The International Boxing Association (AIBA) might be forced to initiate more action against the suspended Indian Federation if its old guard does not take charge soon and calls for a re-election, which is essential to get the provisional ban revoked.

Suspended due to the International Olympic Committee`s ban on the Indian Olympic Association and for “possible manipulation” in its September polls, the IABF has been told to hold a re-election and amend its constitution to make it compliant with the AIBA statute.

The world body has refused to communicate with the new office-bearers, insisting on dealing with the old guard, which had Abhay Singh Chautala as the President.

Given AIBA`s stance, Chautala, who became the nominated Chairman of the new federation in the September polls, will have to take charge as President and initiate the steps that are being insisted upon by AIBA.

But that could jeopardise his position as the President of the Indian Olympic Association where he entered the fray because of his IABF position.

Sources have told PTI that AIBA might “suspend Chautala individually” if he does not take charge of the situation as the President of the old IABF.

The world body might end up working with the next rung of the old IABF hierarchy to conduct the re-elections under its supervision.

“He has to act as the President of the IABF, which AIBA recognises, and call a meeting of the house to set the ball rolling for the re-elections and constitutional amendments. If that does not happen then AIBA might have to suspend him and tell the other office-bearers to carry on with the process,” a source said.

The international body had recently relented to the extent of allowing Indian youth boxers to compete in a tournament in Azerbaijan but had barred any official from accompanying the team.

It has categorically refused to respond to the mails sent by current IABF Secretary General Rajesh Bhandari, insisting that it does not recognise him or any other office-bearer of the suspended body.

Already, the International Olympic Committee has urged all international federations to examine the situation in India and take necessary “action or measures” to “save the autonomy” of the federations in the country.

Calling the situation in India “complicated”, the IOC has told the international bodies, including AIBA, to examine “whether the national federation is in a position to exercise its activities in accordance with its own statutes, the IF regulations and the basic principles which govern the Olympic Movement.”

PTI