BFI sticks to evaluation system to select teams

Indian teams will continue to be selected through the evaluation process at the national camp, with selection trials being held only in 'certain circumstances' at the discretion of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), as per the draft selection policy announced for the new season.

- Avishek Roy

The evaluation system, where campers are assessed on various parameters like performance in training, sparring, weight management, attendance, etc., was introduced by former coach Bernard Dunne, who controversially quit the team after disappointing results in the Paris Olympics qualifiers. Teams for the Olympic qualifiers were selected based on 'evaluation' in the national camp. His methods, especially the decision to do away with the selection trials, came under criticism from several boxers. Some of them, including two-time Olympian Amit Panghal, went to court against Dunne's selection policy, though they did not receive any reprieve. India's six-member boxing team returned without a medal from the Olympics, bringing the preparation and controversies leading up to Paris into sharp focus.