OUR SPORTS REPORTER
Guwahati: Indian boxing needs a robust infrastructure to unearth more Vijendar Singhs and Mary Koms, feels AshishShelar, who is contesting the president's post in the forthcoming Boxing Federation of India (BFI) election.
The next election of BFI would be held during the forthcoming Annual General Meeting which is scheduled to be held in Gurugram on February 3.
Shelar, former administrator of Mumbai Cricket Association, visited Guwahati today and during this visit he also met Assam Chief Minister SarbanandaSonowal and Health Minister HimantaBiswaSarma.
Later talking to the media the sports organizer, who is going to challenge present BFI president Ajay Singh, said, "In recent years, the spotlight has largely been on the international boxers. It's fine. But to produce more VijendarSinghs and Mary Koms, who have created followers for the sport with their exploits, we need to construct new infrastructures and also to upgrade existing ones in the country."
Shelar, a prominent BJP leader and current Member of Legislative Assembly in Maharashtra, is also unhappy with the top office-bearers of the present body for not giving equal treatment to the all State Associations. "Voices of the state units have been ignored and not much effort has gone into empowering them either. I will bring a change if elected," he added.
Secretary general of the Boxing Federation of India Jay Kowli also accompanied Shelar during his visit to Guwahati. Extending his full support to Shelar the secretary general said, "Sevaral things happened in the organization during the last four years which is not good for the game. I don't want to bring inside story out but yes the time has come to bring a change in the organization."