On one hand, there is jubilation all around with the inclusion of cricket and squash at the LA28 Olympics, but the time is running out for boxing to make it to the event. The proposal for the sports to be included in the Olympic programme was approved by the International Olympic Committee executive board on Friday. On the other hand, the long-lasting feud between the IBA and IOC seems to be leading toward the exclusion of boxing since 1920.
What is Happening Between IBA & IOC
The International Boxing Association’s (IBA) recognition as the global body was stripped by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) due to its failure to complete reforms on governance, finance, and ethical issues, earlier in June this year. The body did appeal in th Court of Arbitration for Sport, the sport’s highest court, but the plea was rejected. Something similar also happened in 2019, where the IOC suspended the IBA in 2019.
Boxing is part of the Paris 2024 Olympics but the qualification bouts and the competition are being run by the IOC and not the IBA, as was the case at the Tokyo Games in 2021.
As per a report in Reuters, other issues such as a sponsorship deal with Russian energy giant Gazprom that was terminated in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine further complicated the position of the IBA, which is led by Russian businessman Umar Kremlev.
Boxing at Olympics for India
Boxing is certainly one of those sports where the Indians have a chance to win a medal at the Olympics. In fact, there is a real possibility of winning two medals as well. With women’s sports on the rise, there’s a lot that Indian pugilists can achieve. The likes of Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, both World Champions, could be around five years later as well, and if boxing is not there at the Los Angeles Olympics, they might miss out on the chance of winning a medal. Besides that, there is a strong culture of women’s boxing in the country, and new boxers will also come up for sure. There are a few champion boxers in the men’s section too. So, overall, the exclusion of sport will only hamper India’s chances at the Olympics.
Not just that, India has won three bronze medals in Boxing at the Olympics. The first one came in 2008 by Vijender Singh, followed by Mary Kom, and then Lovlina Borgohain in 2020.
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