Hemanta Kalita, secretary general of the BFI, said:
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) first introduced the headguard for men’s competition at the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2013, the AIBA decided to remove headgear for the World Championships in Almaty. It was also dropped from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. But headgear is still used for women’s competition.
Headgear discussions began after Tokyo Olympic face cuts
The issue of headgear was up for discussion during the boxing competition at the Tokyo Olympics. The number of face cuts suffered by competitors was significant, said a medical expert associated with the BFI.
India’s Satish Kumar also suffered cuts to his forehead and chin in his pre-quarterfinal bout in the heavyweight category. He had to get stitches above the right eye and chin. Badly bruised, he couldn’t recover to give his best in the quarterfinal round, which he lost.
The national tournament is being held after a gap of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Boxers from more than 25 state units and departmental teams are expected to compete at the senior national tournament being organized at Bellary’s Inspire Institute of Sports in Karnataka.
The upcoming national tournament might not attract India’s elite boxers who competed at the Tokyo Olympics. The nine-member boxing national squad, including four in the women’s group, competed at the Games. Commenting on the no-shows, one national level coach said:
Of the nine-member national squad, India won one bronze medal, thanks to Lovlina Borgohain in the women’s category.
Five male boxers, including Amit Panghal, world silver medalist in men’s 52kg, returned empty-handed from Tokyo.
During the national competition, the BFI selection panel will also select boxers for the next month’s World Boxing Championships scheduled to be held in Belgrade from October 24.
Promising a better turnout at that event, Hemanta said:
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