New Delhi: The selection of the boxing team for the Asian Championships has come under scrutiny with another boxer Neeraj Phogat accusing the evaluation process of 'manipulation and favouritism.'
Neeraj, a 65kg weight class boxer, has written a strongly worded letter to the Sports Authority of India, calling for a review of the evaluation process and reinstatement of open trials to select India teams.
The boxer, who competed at the women's world championships last year and won bronze at the World Boxing Cup Finals, finished 5th in the evaluation process and could not progress to the next round.
Neeraj has alleged that the results of the trial bouts are not declared immediately after the bout and points are marked in their evaluation, allowing scope for manipulation.
The assessment process to select India teams was introduced by former HPD Bernard Dunne in 2023, and Santiago Nieva has joined the women's team as head coach, making this the first time the team is selected under him.
BFI has defended the evaluation process, saying it has been giving them results as the best boxers are being picked.
