Elite National Boxing Championships Marred by Chaos on Final Night
Image Source: Internet
Greater Noida: The Elite National Boxing Championships, which concluded on a high note with medal ceremonies, was marred by a chaotic situation on its final night. Several teams of boxers were asked to vacate their rooms at the Gautam Buddha University, the tournament venue, amidst freezing temperatures. The reason behind this sudden move was that the organisers had failed to pay rent to the hostels, leaving the teams with no choice but to find alternative accommodation in the middle of the night. According to team coaches and managers, the hostels and lodges where they were originally put up refused to extend their stay due to non-payment of rent by the organisers. This led to an unpleasant situation, with teams being forced to relocate in the dead of night, carrying their luggage with them. In a statement, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) claimed that immediate steps were taken to ensure the affected athletes were accommodated at the nearest facility at GB University, with suitable sleeping arrangements made for the night. However, sources close to the BFI revealed that the delay in releasing funds sanctioned by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) was the primary cause of the issues. The BFI had received ₹30 lakh for the conduct of the tournament, but only ₹22.50 lakh was paid as advance, leaving the organisers struggling to meet the expenses. This is not the first time the National Boxing Championships have faced organisational hurdles. The tournament had already encountered a four-hour delay on its opening day due to the delay in erecting the rings. Additionally, teams have been complaining about poor accommodation, food, and logistics throughout the event. Despite the chaos, the championships have concluded successfully, with many boxers who made it to the podium collecting their medals on Saturday. The event, which featured men and women boxers for the first time, saw around 600 boxers competing in the nationals.
