'We used to give these boxers a hammering in the ring and now they are teaching youngsters how to defend. Come on man!' 'People like Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar were among the top boxers in the world, but instead of choosing them to train young boxers they are picking people who are yes men.'
Expectations were high from Paris and observers of the game felt at least one, if not two medals, could be expected from the six boxers who qualified.
London Olympics bronze medalist MC Mary Kom, L Sarita Devi and Pooja Rani are all set to represent India in the upcoming 12th South Asian Games 2016 to be held in Guwahati and Shillong. The trio emerged triumphant in the final round bouts of their respective weight categories during the South Asain Games Test event and Elite Women's National Boxing Selection trial held at the NEHU, SAI Special Area Games in Shillong on Friday. While five-time world champion Mary Kom beat Sarjubala Devi in the fly-weight category to claim the SAG spot, Sarita ousted a spirited Soniya in the light-weight category.
Mary Kom (51kg) claimed her eighth world medal at the recently-concluded championships in Russia and BFI now plans to send the Manipuri boxer for the Olympic qualifiers in China
Top woman boxer L Sarita Devi has threatened to return the Arjuna award she was conferred last year and quit representing the country if the 'injustice' of dropping her from the Asian Games squad is not looked into by the sports minister.
Five-time World champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) pipped arch-rival Pinki Jangra to the India's women's squad, while World Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) made the cut in a star-studded men's boxing team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in China from March 23.
Top boxer Vijender Singh, who finds himself at the centre of a drug scandal, will not be considered for selection for two upcoming international events for missing the trials.
'Will tell BFI to decide what's best for nation'
For most part, Indian boxing had lots to celebrate and it started with the season-opening Strandja Memorial, one of Europe's oldest and most competitive tournaments.
Furious with the three boxers who alleged that trials for the upcoming World Championships were manipulated, Indian Boxing Federation President Abhishek Matoria, said on Friday, disciplinary action will be taken against them if they fail to prove their charges.
Manish Kaushik has announced his arrival on the senior scene in grand fashion.
Nitu (48kg) and Jasmine (60kg) were the others boxers who sealed spots for the quadrennial event, in Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.
Nikhat, Lovlina on course for CWG berth
MC Mary Kom, saying it would just be a "formality" to beat her in the trials for the Olympic qualifiers.
Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh (75 kg) and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Paramjeet Samota (+91 kg) are among the Indian elite men boxers selected for the Asian Continental Olympics Boxing Qualification tournament to be held at Astana, Kazakhstan from April 5-12.
The selection of the Indian team for the World Boxing Championships has run into a controversy with three pugilists, including Arjuna awardee Dinesh Kumar, threatening to take the panel to court even as Olympian Akhil Kumar vowed to sue one of them for dragging his name into the furore.
Vijender Singh (75kg) made a return to the Indian boxing team along with Thokchom Nanao Singh (49kg) as the selectors picked the team for the World Championships after a two-day trial in Patiala, on Wednesday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
M C Mary Kom managed to surpass even herself, obliterating everyone and everything else along the way in a tumultuous year for the sport.
In a stunning turn of events, five-time World champion and Olympic bronze-medallist M C Mary Kom was left out of the three-member Indian women's boxing squad for the Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, from July 23 to August 3.
Rookie L Devendro Singh was the surprise pick while established names such as Vijender Singh and Akhil Kumar expectedly fetched a berth in a 10-member Indian boxing team announced on Thursday for the World Championships in Azerbaijan next month.
Prince Harry on Tuesday became the first senior British royal to give evidence in a high court trial in over 100 years as he appeared in the witness box here to allege unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking, by journalists working for the Mirror Group Newspapers.
Three Indian pugilists, including Nikhat Zareen, advanced to the semi-finals in their respective events after thrilling victories while Lovlina Borgohain bowed out in the quarter-finals in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Wednesday.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) maintains that winning a gold medal at the Nationals was not a criterion to pick the team.
Mary Kom rebuffed Nikhat's attempted hug owing to a bitter build-up to the bout.
Indian boxing's biggest names are demanding an all systems reboot to halt the sport's decline after a medal-less Olympic campaign in Rio and their roadmap goes beyond having the much-delayed national federation.
Neeraj Chauhan was driven into penury as the novel coronavirus had begun to spread its ugly tentacles
India bagged as many as 21 medals at the Spanish Para Badminton International in Cartagena, Spain.
Shivade then asked if the skeleton finally came out of the ground in many parts. It was difficult not to gasp aloud at that revelation. Bhagat said that was true.
The following is the timeline of the chain of events that led to the suspension of the Wrestling Federation of India by UWW, the sport's global governing body.
Noise levels began to climb and everyone else in the room stared agape as the fracas escalated, including the trio of accused at the back. Peter, Sanjeev and Indrani stood at the edge of their enclosure craning to see the spectacle.
'If OTT platforms had not come in, we would not get this second lease of life.'
In the witness box, on bald embarrassing display, was not just Sub-Inspector Ganesh Dalvi, but the entire system of police investigation too.
Mary Kom lets it rip after winning trial bout against Nikhat Zareen
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Frida
'All I am saying is just give me a chance. It is my dream to compete in the Olympics too.'
'I am not saying let me go to the Olympics. I am asking for a fair chance for a trial.'
'All these years I have been training for what? What is the point if I cannot compete?'
Now, boxer Gaurav Bidhuri cries foul at exclusion from Olympic qualifiers' trial.
Among other Indians in the competition, four-time Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63kg) got a bye into the second round.
Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju advised the Boxing Federation of India to be transparent and resolve the Nikhat Zareen-Mary Kom in the best possible manner.
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