Commonwealth Games: Indian coaches allowed at ringside in boxing, say sources

Mumbai: There was good news for Indian boxers at the Commonwealth Games starting on Wednesday in Glasgow with the world body AIBA reversing its original stand of not allowing coaches to second them at ringside during bouts.

A communication received from AIBA to a senior boxing official said that the world boxing body has communicated that "Indian coaches will be allowed to second the boxers and be at ringside during the Games," concluding on August 3, sources informed PTI.

Boxing competition starts on July 25.

In what appeared to be a case of misunderstanding, India's boxing coaches at the Games had earlier been barred from occupying ringside seats during bouts due to the country's termination from AIBA.

A communication to this effect from the competition organisers was received by the Indian Olympic Association last Tuesday.

AIBA suspended IBF first in 2012 and then terminated it in March this year stating that the then set of office-bearers were "damaging the image, reputation and interest" of the sport.

Later, in May there was a meeting in Lausanne between AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu and the IOA President, N Ramachandran, to discuss issues related to boxing in India. "AIBA received full support from the IOA with regards to the selection of the new AIBA member for India. Further to this agreement, AIBA immediately informed the IOA of the AIBA Executive Committee decision of May 14 to accept Boxing India as the new National Federation," AIBA stated.

"But no Indian official or manager or ringside judges can attend international events (till new body Boxing India gets full recognition of AIBA after due election process). Probably the CWG organisers have misunderstood that this includes coaches too," the source had earlier indicated.