New Delhi: In a major snub to the IOA, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has turned down its request to conduct elections to form India's new federation even as Kishan Narsi resigned from the IOA-appointed ad-hoc committee for the sport after being appointed an observer for the September 11 polls.
In a fresh round of churning ahead of the controversy-marred elections in Mumbai, the AIBA has tersely rejected Indian Olympic Association's request of conducting the elections.
"Boxing India elections will move forward with AIBA's support and we will evaluate the results. If the results are approved by AIBA and the world body recognises Boxing India, then it will govern the sport in India and not the IOA ad-hoc committee or the IOA," a source told PTI quoting from the letter which AIBA has sent.
"But AIBA has told the IOA that they are welcome to send an observer and be satisfied that the process is clean.
However, they cannot conduct these polls," he said. The source said that AIBA has also told IOA to disband the six-member ad-hoc committee, headed by veteran administrator Tarlochan Singh, which was overseeing some affairs of sport due to the federation's termination.
The committee had recently created a flutter by calling a meeting of the state units to finalise the dates for the National Championships despite opposition from Boxing India, the provisional body recognised by AIBA. AIBA's move comes a day after it appointed Cliodhna Guy, from its legal department, and Narsi, who is India's representative in AIBA, as the two observers for the polls.
Narsi has now given up his position in the IOA panel as he would be an AIBA observer at the polls. "He couldn't have held on to both the positions. It wouldn't have been morally correct. Since he would be overseeing the elections, it was only fair that he resign from the IOA panel," the source said.
The elections are being conducted by Boxing India, the interim body recognised by AIBA after the national federation was terminated earlier this year following a suspension dating back to 2012.
The run-up to the elections, which were originally scheduled for July 9, has been bumpy at best as several state units have expressed open dissatisfaction with Boxing India's handling of the responsibility.
Boxing India is a consortium of former administrators and corporates and also includes CMD of long-time Indian boxing sponsor Monnet Ispat Limited, Sandeep Jajodia. Jajodia is all set to be elected unopposed as President of the new body as no other candidate is in fray for the position.
In the final list of nominations, there are three candidates in fray for the Secretary General's post. Delhi's Rohit Jain, Maharashtra's Jay Kowli and Haryana's Rakesh Thakran.
The three-way contest is expected to go down the wire as the candidates have been trading charges of manipulation. The Treasurer's position will also witness a three-way contest.
Manipur's Khoibi Salam, Assam's Hemanta Kumar Kalita and Tripura's Dr Rupak Debroy are in the fray for this position.
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