NEW DELHI: The volatile situation in Assam in the wake of statewide protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill moved by the ruling BJP government at the Centre has scuppered an international boxing tournament that was scheduled to be held in Guwahati from February 5 to 9.
The event has been postponed indefinitely as international federations are chary of sending teams for the India Open, which was being organised by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) in Assam’s commercial capital.
“Due to the prevailing situation in Assam (across the North-East as a whole actually), several countries did not send their entries. We had entries from only 10 countries and there was no point holding the event on a small scale,” BFI executive director Raj Kumar Sacheti told The Hindu.
The BFI had started the event last year with an aim to give international exposure to Indian boxers, who were fielded in various teams. Boxers from 28 countries had participated in the inaugural edition held in Delhi.
“Now, it is likely to be held in May,” a hopeful Sacheti told the daily. Why hopeful? General elections are due to be held in India between April and May to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha, that’s why.
