New Delhi: AIBA informed Delhi High Court that 16-year-old boxer Harshpreet Sehrawat cannot be considered for participating in the junior world boxing championship as he cannot be said to be the ‘best’ in his category. An ad hoc committee of AIBA said the international association does not come under Indian legal jurisdiction and thus cannot be “forced to accept decision which doesn’t fit within the terms and condition.”
“Petitioner’s submission itself proves that the said boxer is only an All India School Games meet Gold Medallist in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and a silver medallist in 2014-15, thus cannot be called as best in his category,” an affidavit filed by a member of ad hoc committee said. The committee also cautioned that if such petitions were entertained by the courts, it would be detrimental to Indian sports future as it will be flooded with similar petitions “to get oneself included forcefully and experts in the respective field will not be able to carry out any good work.”
The affidavit came in compliance with the court’s order asking it to “review” the selection and participation of Sehrawat in the junior world boxing championship to be held in St Petersburg, Russia from September 2-13.
