Bernard Dunne.
| Photo Credit: ANI
Nikhat Zareen will represent India at the 2023 Asian Games, the first qualification occasion for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bernard Dunne, who was final yr appointed excessive efficiency director for the Indian boxing groups, confirmed this at a press convention right here at the IBA Boxing World Championships.
Nikhat, the Commonwealth Games Champion in the 50kg class, earned the proper to compete at the Asian Games by advantage of reaching the ultimate of the World Championships in the mild flyweight class after beating Rio bronze medallist Ingrid Valencia in the semifinals. Selection for the Asian Games, would give rivals a primary shot at qualifying for the Paris Olympics. According to the International Olympic committee’s qualification standards for boxing at the 2024 Olympics, the high 4 finishers in the ladies’s 50kg class at the Hangzhou Asian Games, scheduled to be held in September, will qualify for the Paris Olympics.
The choice coverage posted on the Boxing Federation of India web site, states “…The athlete who medal (Gold/Silver) at the World Championship 2023 will have an automatic selection for the Asian games 2023 (first Olympic qualifier) in that particular weight category”.
“Those who have won gold or silver here (the world championships) in an Olympic weight category are the automatic selection for the Asian Games. We have no plans to change the selection policy right now,” Dunne said on Saturday. Dunne’s assertion additionally meant that Lovlina Borgohain, who reached the ultimate of the 75kg middleweight class, will probably be India’s consultant at the Asian Games.
Dunne made the assertion with regard to a question whether or not choice trials is perhaps held for the ladies’s 50kg weight class forward of the Asian Games. While Nikhat had seemingly laid declare to the spot in marquee mild flyweight Olympic class in the Indian roster having received gold in the 52kg class at the 2022 World Championships and the 50kg class at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the risk of choice trials had come up owing to the meteoric rise of Nitu Ghanghas over the final yr.
Competing in the minimum-weight class (48kg), two time world youth champion Nitu had received gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The 22-year-old had additionally reached the ultimate of the 2023 World Championships, stopping three opponents and beating 2022 World silver medallist Alua Balkibekova in the semifinals.
Dunne mentioned that whereas Nikhat was the computerized choose for the Asian Games, there was nonetheless a risk for Nitu. “Anything could happen. God forbid someone could pick up an injury or break a hand or leg. At that time our number 2 and 3 boxers have to be ready. If you are called upon, you need to be ready. Nikhat is the first pick but Nitu could compete for that No. 2,” Dunne mentioned.
For that although Nitu would have to transfer up a weight class. It’s not sure whether or not that’s one thing she would just do but. “After the World Championships, some of the boxers will change and some will not. We have already had this conversation with the boxers,” Dunne mentioned.
Dunne additional reiterated that crew choice wouldn’t be made on the foundation of choice trials however reasonably on the foundation of fixed analysis on efficiency inside the nationwide camp. The coverage which he had initiated in the Indian boxing crew since he took over has had its share of controversy with 4 boxers even approaching the courts after they weren’t picked for the World Championships.
“When we conduct selection trials, we are letting judges determine who the best boxer is after three rounds of three minutes each. God forbid an athlete fall sick ahead of the trials. The system we have right now empowers the coaches who see the boxers day in and day out. It allows those who best know the athletes to make a decision regarding selection,” he mentioned.
