CHENNAI: Boxing India (BI) is now entangled in a peculiar mess. The Women’s Senior National Boxing Championships, which was hastily hosted in Raipur from October 11 to October 16, showed lack of preparedness on the part of the hosts as well as the BI. Though the participation was high, there were logistical issues. This led to non-payment of dues to ringside officials, who are yet to receive their Travel and Dearness allowances.
The State units are unhappy with the way the organisers and the BI handled the issue. Besides, since the BI was not recognised by the Sports Ministry or the Indian Olympic Association, the participants could not avail of the 75 per cent travel concession they are entitled to. The first nationals under the new regime was sponsored by BI president Sandeep Jajodia’s company Monnet, which took care of boarding and food.
The hosts, who usually take care of everything, are saying they didn’t have the money and the event was hastily organised. There was no demarcation of responsibilities. The BI officials are saying the hosts need to pay the excess fare for officials and players.
According to BI rules, officials get Rs 500 per day and a return AC II-tier fare. Around 65-70 officials are yet to receive their dues. According to the officials, the organisers would need Rs 4-Rs 4.5 lakh (@ approx Rs 5,000-Rs 5,500 in total) to cover this cost alone. On the State units’ reimbursements, a top BI official said it would be taken care of. On average, they require Rs 20 to Rs 25 lakh to host a senior national event. “The organisers would pay the officials and we have already directed them to do so,” said Jay Kowli, secretary-general of the BI.
It’s apparently taking time because the organisers don’t have the bank details of many officials.
Chhattisgarh Boxing Association president Rajendra Prasad, however, denied knowledge of any such an arrangement. “We don’t have the money,” he said. “If we don’t have the money how can we pay the parties?” But he hopes to resolve the issue soon. “There was no clarity as to who would spend on what,” said Prasad.