BFI has some explaining to do

It was a sight to savour for any boxing fan -- how he moved swiftly around the ring in his right-handed stance, about 100 pounds of springy, buoyant energy. He circled England's Kiaran Macdonald, deftly ducked punches, and landed right hooks straight on the face for maximum points.

Amit Panghal had every answer for Macdonald's punches, his fists almost skimming the glass, his wiry body rippling with an agitated, furious energy. He then dipped low and weaved as he reined in a flurry of punches on his opponent while also defending with ease.

The Englishman needed a bit of treatment for an injury above his right eye, after which he ramped up the aggression. Panghal let it come at him, feinting, defending, counter-punching, and occasionally - and deliciously - attacking. The jabs flew at lightning speeds, the uppercuts arrived without warning, and the hooks unsettled his opponent.

By then, the judges and I had little doubt, as in no time, Panghal celebrated another 5-0 unanimous win with a salute to the crowd and his usual 'namaste' as well. The Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold seems like it was won yesterday.

Amit Panghal after securing his maiden CWG gold (Pic: Getty Images)

Call it guts or courage. It remains to be one of the most underestimated characteristics that all boxers need.

When you get into the ring, you face an opponent who will try to hit you with hard punches so that you fail. Even the world's best fighters get hit hard in their bouts.

You know this in advance. It takes guts to get in the ring and fight knowing you are going to get hit. It takes even more guts to keep fighting with discipline and precision after you have gotten hurt. It is perhaps not surprising then, that India's lone men's boxing world championships silver medallist cannot seem to give up the fight. Be it inside or outside the ring.

If you look behind the medals and global recognition, there is a turf battle that makes its way to the public eye every once in a while.

The latest flashpoint was former World No. 1 Panghal's claim that he was being denied a ‘fair' trial for the Asian Games. The underlying problem here, I am afraid, is the increasing control the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is looking to exercise over the career of our medallists.

It will take a long time before the sting from sitting out the tournament fades away for Panghal. But what may even burn more is that it appears the 27-year-old boxer's Asian Games' hopes were sacrificed by his own national federation to improve the medal chances of another Haryana resident, Deepak Kumar Bhoria.

"I have requested for a fair trial. I cannot understand this new points system. On what basis have they been selecting boxers?" Panghal, who is the reigning Asian Games light flyweight champion, told Mid-day on Sunday. "Even during the World Championships, he (Deepak) was selected in my weight class based on this system but he lost to the player I had beaten 5-0, but I cannot understand why they are still continuing with it."

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Panghal has now filed a writ petition in Punjab and Haryana high court along with two other boxers -- Sagar Ahlawat and Rohit Mor against the BFI after being left out from the Indian squad for the continental event to be held from September 23 to October 8 in China. Sagar (+92kg) and Rohit (57kg) also finished second in their respective weight categories behind Sachin Siwach and Narender Berwal under BFI's selection policy respectively.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sagar also claimed that the new system of selection is biased. "Last time there were trials (CWG). The boxer who is selected I had beaten him 5-0. Now they are doing an assessment they select whoever they want. They have no procedure," he told PTI.

Panghal, a 2018 Asian Games champion, has medalled in all big ticket events barring the Olympics. He had defeated world championship bronze medallist Deepak, who has been selected in the 51kg weight class for the upcoming event, during the Commonwealth Games trial last year.

"I have beaten him in trials in the past. I am far ahead of him in the points system as well, and yet I am at the receiving end of such bias. At the end of the week, I am somehow Number 2, and I don't know why," lamented Panghal.

The BFI, meanwhile, defended its decision by saying that the new selection process has been made clear to all boxers in the camp and the same will be followed for the Asian Games. According to the new selection policy, which has been in place since this year, boxers undergo an evaluation process for three weeks where they are judged on various parameters.

Panghal said he felt betrayed by his own federation and questioned the politics that surrounded the sometimes murky process for choosing the boxers for the continental tournament. It created a weeks-long emotional roller-coaster, with multiple deadlines for decisions that came and went, leaving him in a frustrating limbo.

Arguing there is no transparency in the new evaluation system, Panghal remarked: "It is not justified. Tell us where we are going wrong. How would we know that? I don't understand this evaluation. They don't tell us anything. When I enquired, I was told that they assessed on weight training, but I am ahead of him in that as well. Then why am I rated below (him) today? I don't understand. Where are my points being deducted, where exactly my opponent is scoring, no one knows, and they don't tell us. I don't know what, how, and where to improve."

The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought a response from the BFI as well as the Sports Ministry. The hearing for the case is scheduled for Monday and Panghal is hopeful of a favourable verdict.

"The hearing is on Monday. I hope it will be in my favour as I am ahead of him in all the tests. I think justice will prevail. I strongly feel whoever is the strongest should go on to represent the country in the end," he said.

Panghal further alleged that he has been made to feel 'demotivated' during his time at the national camp.

"Training is going on as usual. But there has been a change in people's behavioural attitude towards me. The court case has taken an ugly turn here. I have been demotivated and made to feel useless in the camp. It seems as if I am not part of the camp. I am being made to feel like an outsider here."

The boxing federation has banged on about a mantra of always picking the best possible Indian team since time immemorial.

I dare say, stats can be skewed sometimes to suggest someone is in a form slump when he probably isn't, or vice versa, but there's no way of twisting those figures to suggest anything other than he is in rare air.

And that's without even mentioning the manner in which he has hogged the limelight for the country, time and again. That form shouldn't just edge you into a team. It should just about make sure the team is picked around you.

"But a trial is all that I am asking for, Madam," Panghal reiterates. "I would give up on it if I lose, but at least let us all play fair," he signs off.

(This story was originally published on July 24)