The International Boxing Association (AIBA) today 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, in its submissions before a bench of Justice V P Vaish, 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 of participation in World Championships."
"Petitioner's submission itself proves that the said boxer is only an All India School Games meet Gold Medalist in 2012-13 and 2013-14 and a silver medalist 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 of the ad hoc committee came in compliance with the court's August 25 order asking it to conduct an urgent meeting 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.
On the minor boxer's plea seeking direction to participate in the junior world boxing championship, the court had earlier directed the AIBA committee to pass a detailed reasoned order regarding his rejection or selection.
The court had also directed the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to take instruction on Sehrawat's plea claiming that he was the "best boxer in his weight category of 80+."
Sehrawat's guardian had moved the court claiming he was a national champion fighting much older boxers in his weight category, and despite his credentials, he had not been selected by the Selection Committee for the World Junior Championship.
