Boxing India using money to get power: Narinder Batra

New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the newly-approved `Boxing India`, secretary general of Hockey India, Narinder Batra, today accused the ad-hoc association of using money to get power which will have an adverse effect on Indian sport.

The chairman of long-time Indian boxing sponsor Monnet Ispat Limited, Sandeep Jajodia, and owner of India`s World Series of Boxing franchise, Udit Sheth are part of the consortium which has got the International Boxing Association`s (AIBA) nod for provisional representation and is most likely to get formal approval as well. Batra is concerned that the move might set a wrong precedent. "It is rumoured and trust me there is no smoke without fire, that a big amount has been given to the international federation to formally approve Boxing India as a registered boxing association. I have grave concern because it will directly have a bearing on all the sports bodies in the future," Batra told PTI. "The reason behind it is that two business houses are working together to form a federation and that itself is questionable. If business houses sponsor a sport, it`s fine but displaying this kind of money power to buy and sell federations is a wrong step for Indian sport," added Batra. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president N Ramachandran has backed the new Boxing India and Batra is not at all impressed. "Not only the government, but our IOA president should also take the issue very seriously. According to our sources, he had gone to Lausanne to settle this matter a month back. He met the AIBA chief Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu and his only aim is to bring squash in the Olympic fold. But he should not sacrifice Indian sports for his vested interests," said Batra. "President saab if you don`t have the spine then please don`t spoil Indian sports. Don`t ruin Indian sports under IOC and OCA pressure." It was on March 3 that the AIBA Executive Committee decided to terminate India "due to serious violations of the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws". Following the termination, it was decided to establish a new national federation in India with the right group of people who would support the principles of AIBA in terms of ethics and fairness. Batra, though, opined that rules have been flouted and urged the new government to take serious note of the matter. "A new government has taken office and I would like to urge the new sports minister through this statement of mine that he should take this issue very seriously and should stop this system of buying and selling in sports," he said. Transstadia, who is also part of the new Boxing India, owned the World Series Boxing (WSB) franchise of Mumbai Fighters till 2012 before losses forced them to back off. Batra stressed that the move to approve the new federation is a way out to balance the losses. "Now this new Boxing India association that has been formed and is close to being legalised by the International federation is probably an outcome of the losses that that were incurred during an international boxing league. "The people who are in charge of this league have been handed the federation as a gift by AIBA to make up for their losses while staging the international league. Is India a guinea pig which will be run by a federation?," asked an angry Batra. Indian boxers were barred from taking part in international events last year and to make sure thay they didn`t suffer any more, Ramachandran had appointed the ad-hoc body. But Batra insisted the association is a body of lies. "They have not even taken an NOC by the government to use the word India and Boxing India is already on the table. Why have you made an Olympic association if the international bodies have to recognise the federation. They `care two hoots` for the athletes because they don`t give them profit," concluded Batra.