Govt orders probe against UPBA’s sec

LUCKNOW: Following a complaint to chief minister Yogi Adityanath by one boxer Krishna Dabral, the Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate has ordered an enquiry into an alleged age fraud involving the Uttar Pradesh Boxing Association’s (UPBA) secretary Anil Mishra.

Director sports RP Singh has named deputy director, sports, Mudrika Pathak as the enquiry officer and asked her to submit her report within one week.

“As per the letter of Manmohan Dabral (boxer Krishna Dabral’s father), who has complained about favouritism and corruption in selection of Uttar Pradesh team for the national boxing championship during the trials at Meerut, you have been nominated as enquiry officer. You are advised to submit your report within one week’s time,” states Singh in his letter dated August 31.

On being contacted, UPBA secretary Mishra refuted all allegations levelled against him and said he was open to all kinds of enquiry while claiming that he didn’t commit any fraud in the selection process of the state team.

“It was a free and fair selection of the UP team for the national championship I did no wrong. I am ready for all kinds of enquiry,” he said, adding, “If required, I will personally lodge an FIR against the individuals who are involved in any wrongdoings in the selection process.”

A resident of Lucknow, Manmohan Dabral in his letter to the CM alleged that UPBA secretary and his colleagues were exploiting the support of Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate against genuine players.

“My son Krishna Dabral was cheated during the state trials at Meerut and he was forced to lose his match as he was asked to fight against a boxer of upper weight category. The boxer, thus, represented the state at the national by submitting fake age certificate,” Dabral states in his letter.

He also alleged that Mishra had consistently been supporting the other boxer and hampering the future of boxers of the state. “Because of this biased attitude of Mishra and other officials of UPBA, many a talented boxer in the state have stopped playing the event and it’s a big loss to the sport.”

He, however, requested that a high-level enquiry be instituted against Mishra and the UPBA so that boxers of the state could get justice.