Bury differences, AIBA committee to Indian boxing family

New Delhi: The AIBA-appointed ad-hoc committee to run boxing in India has urged all stakeholders to bury their differences and show a "disciplined approach" to end the long-dragging administrative crisis in the sport.

In a letter sent out to the suspended Boxing India President Meren Paul, the committee's chairman Kishan Narsi has said that the matter can be resolved only if the members of "boxing family" work in tandem.

"Please understand, we at ad-hoc committee are totally committed to the welfare of Indian Boxers and Indian Boxing as well. However, it would be helpful if the Indian Boxing family bury their differences to follow the International Boxing Association (AIBA) guidelines in order to resolve issues as soon as possible," Narsi wrote in the letter.

"AIBA has been more than kind to accommodate India's requests every time and then and it needs member's firm resolve to rise above all the petty issues and have a disciplined approach to tide over the present crisis," he added.

Indian boxing has been in turmoil for three years now after the erstwhile Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) was terminated. The new body which took office last year -- Boxing India -- also disintegrated and was suspended after its President and Secretary General were sacked following a revolt by state units.

Ever since, the ad-hoc committee has been running the sport and has been mandated to find a new group to constitute the national federation all over again. However, state units and BI have tried to come back into reckoning by holding meetings leading to sharp reaction from AIBA.

Narsi urged the stakeholders to not act unilaterally. "...I request you and your group to follow AIBA directions and refrain from operating independently organising any event, competition, meet or meeting hereafter, without ad-hoc committee approval," he wrote to Paul.

Narsi said the committee is trying to arrive at consensus to resolve the crisis. "...We are in process of involving more family members in ad-hoc committee's work to re-start boxing activities including organising a joint meeting and getting all the stakeholders together to resolve this issue that may include a fresh elections as well.

"We expect disciplined conduct from the members to achieve that at the soonest possible," he asserted.

The committee is planning to conduct the National Championships next month.