‘Scoring system confusing as dominant boxers too lose’

NEW DELHI: Indian boxing fraternity has backed International Olympic Committee’s efforts to clean up the sport and make the scoring system transparent ahead of the 2020 Olympics.

For long, the scoring system in boxing has been under the scanner and Indian boxers have often been at the receiving end of refereeing howlers. A case in point is L Sarita Devi’s controversial semifinal bout in the Incheon Asian Games that saw the boxer refusing the bronze medal on the podium and was subsequently banned for a year.

The boxing competition at the Rio Olympics was hit by corruption allegations and concerns were raised over the role of judges and referees in alleged manipulation of draws and bouts. The IOC, after its executive board meeting on Thursday, maintained its tough posture over the need to improve the refereeing in boxing.

Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh agreed that scoring has to improve but felt banning the sport from 2020 Olympics would be too harsh. “I don’t think boxing will be banned and I am confident that things will improve,” Vijender said.

“I do feel that there has to be some improvement in the scoring system. Indian boxers are sweating hard to make an impression at the world level. Our boxers have raised hopes with their performance at Commonwealth Games.”

Former national boxing coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu said overhauling the scoring system is one of the key areas that need immediate attention. He said the current system, where the score is shown only after the end of bout, is bit confusing and doesn’t engage the spectators. A new scoring system was introduced at Rio Olympics but it led to more confusion.

“The previous system of scoring was good as the points used to flash on the screen after every round indicating which boxer was ahead of the other. It fully engaged the spectators and rival teams as well. The current system is confusing because sometimes the dominant boxer loses the bout after the result is officially announced,” Sandhu said.

“I feel AIBA need to come up with a better scoring system and it will enable the federation to win back the trust of the IOC as well as boxing fraternity,” he said.

Sandhu said banning the sport would harm the country’s medal prospect at the Olympics. “We have the potential to win medal and it will be big loss if boxing is out of the Olympics. The Govt only supports events which feature in Olympics .”

›

I don’t think boxing will be banned and I am confident that things will improve.

VIJENDER, Olympic medallist