‘India will get back WSB franchise’

New Delhi, March 1: India is all set to reclaim a franchise in the semi-professional World Series of Boxing that was lost to administrative wrangling in 2012, the International Boxing Association president Dr Ching Kuo-Wu revealed on Wednesday.

Speaking post the conclusion of a two-day AIBA Commissions meeting held in India for the first time, Dr Wu also said that India would be getting greater representation in the world body.

India had a WSB franchise, Mumbai Fighters in 2011-12, but the owners — sports infrastructure company TransStadia — pulled out complaining of lack of support from the then national federation.

It is learnt that the same investors might again buy the franchise and India could be back in the WSB fold from this year itself. Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh also confirmed that Indian boxers would be participating in greater numbers in the WSB.

“Yes (the franchise is coming back), I think President Singh had a discussion with franchise investors and this is part of the Indian boxing programme. We are working together,” Dr Wu said.

On the assimilation of professional boxers in the amateur set-up after AIBA decided to allow them into the Olympics last year, Dr Wu said the policy framework would be left to the national federations.

“AIBA has given all the power to national federations to decide which professional boxer they want to send. They are the best judge. We have opened the door but the power over the eligibility of the boxer will remain with the national federation,” he said.