Ministry cracks down on BFI over opaque selection process

GONDA: The Sports Ministry on Monday issued a show cause notice to the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), questioning its controversial and opaque assessment test process for selecting Indian boxing teams for the upcoming CWG in Glasgow and Asian Games in Japan’s Aichi-Nagoya. The ministry warned the federation to explain within seven days why action should not be initiated against it for “violations and deficiencies” in its selection procedures.The ministry objected to BFI’s decision to treat the 2nd Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Cup as a selection pathway for the two major international events, pointing out that it was a closed-door competition and did not ensure equal opportunity for all athletes. In the notice, the ministry observed that such shortcomings undermined the principles of transparency, accountability and athlete-centric sports administration.The development came after crucial intervention by the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which pulled up the federation for its lack of transparency and urged it to adopt a fair, performance-based methodology for team selection.Following intense discussions involving SAI officials, BFI office-bearers and national coaches Santiago Nieva and CA Kuttappa in Delhi, the federation has now revised its assessment process. The coaches had travelled from the NS NIS Patiala, where the national camp is underway.Despite the notice, BFI has proposed fresh dates — May 13 to 15 — for conducting the assessment trials. The revised format aims to introduce greater fairness and transparency. According to the new proposal submitted to SAI, all sparring bouts will be judged using a five-member panel comprising one head coach and four judges. Scores will be announced immediately after each bout, similar to official boxing competitions.The federation has also scrapped the earlier sports science-based marking system, declaring previous scores null and void. A 10-point must scoring system, rotational deployment of 12 referees and judges, and a one percent weight allowance for all bouts are among the key changes introduced in the revamped selection policy.