Mumbai Duel Hits Security Snag

By T.M.K. Samat

The Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008 has found echoes in our little world of boxing. The inaugural Under-20 eight-fight duel contest between Mumbai and the ABA President’s team, scheduled for last Tuesday, failed to materialize because half the Mumbai team failed to secure Indian Defence Ministry security clearance in time.
“Security clearance for the four Muslim boxers in the Mumbai team could not be completed in time – and that’s why the meet had to be postponed,’’ said Lt/ Col. (retd.) Hemantha Weerasinghe, ABA Secretary. “Clearance was given to the four non-Muslim boxers – so obviously the attack on Mumbai (by Pakistanis) means that even Muslims sportsmen are subject to a comprehensive security checks before permission is given them to leave the country. ’’
Mumbai boxing officials, however, had offered to fly out a four-man team, but the ABA had preferred to postpone the event for July. “Obviously, it’s disappointing not to have got the duel off the ground. But the upside is their willingness to come with even half-a-team and set the in motion the annual meet – it’s a reflection of their keenness for the meet,’’ said Weerasinghe. “They are confident the clearance would be given in about a week’s time – and though we would’ve wished to slot the duel for June, unfortunately, next month has been allotted to the duel with Moscow BC.’’
Though the inaugural duel isn’t even a junior international contest, the ABA is according it importance above its level of prestige. The exercise is all about reviving the hugely popular Indo-Ceylon Schools contest of old. During the 1959-66 contests, the challenge to win a place in the Sri Lanka schools team inspired a tremendous rise in the level of schools boxing. The era made national champions out of schoolboys: the Bulner brothers, Malcolm and Michael, M Jaroof, M H Marzook, L V Douglas. The elder Bulner went on to fight in the 1964 Olympics while at St. Sylvester’s yet.
“The intention is to work the under-20 competition (v. Bombay) down to a schoolboy level, i.e. to an under-19 international,’’ said Lt. Col. (retd) Hemantha Weerasinghe, ABA Secretary. “We’re hoping that schools’ boxing in India is as active as it is here. That wasn’t the case during the years of the old duel. But of late Indian boxing is enjoying a boom and we like to think its popularity has filtered down to the level of schools. If it has then we might well see an even better duel than the old one.’’
“If, however, it doesn’t pan out that way, we’ll still have the under-20 meet with Bombay to fall back on. Indian boxers have performed impressively internationally, including the Olympics, which means their junior boxing too is in a healthy state. Bombay has traditionally been one of India’s strongest boxing centers and you can be certain that their team won’t be easy beats.’’