Indian boxer Sarita Devi elected to AIBA first Athletes Commission

Veteran Indian boxer L Sarita Devi was elected unopposed to International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) first-ever Athletes Commission. She is among six boxers elected as members of the commission from 5 continents. She will be representing Asian bloc in this Commission. The election for members of this commission was conducted during AIBA men’s and women’s Boxing Championships 2019 held in Russia. Sarita Devi was sole candidate contesting for this position from Asian region.

About Laishram Sarita Devi

She was born on 1 March 1982 in Manipur. Sge had become a professional boxer in 2000. She is eight-time Asian Championships medalist — five of them gold. She has been athletes representative in the executive committee of Boxing Federation of India (BFI), which nominated her for the position in the world body. She was awarded Arjuna award in 2009 by Central Government for her achievements. She is also DSP with Manipur Police.

Asian Games 2014 Controversy: She had courted controversy in Asian Games in 2014 (held in Incheon, South Korea,), when she had refused to accept her bronze medal at the prize distribution ceremony of the 57-60kg category. owever, she accepted the medal later. This was followed by one-year ban on her by the AIBA.

About AIBA Athletes Commission

It was set up as a part of the reforms recommended by International Olympic Committee (IOC) for AIBA.

Background: IOC in May 2019 had stripped AIBA of its right to conduct boxing in the 2020 Olympic Games due to alleged financial, ethics and administrative mismanagement and irregularities.

Members of Commission: It features one male and a female boxer from each of the five regional confederations – Asia, Oceania, Africa, Americas and Europe.

Functions of Members: Its members are mandated to act as a bridge between AIBA and boxers to ensure greater transparency and coordination in the formulation of rules and projects for the sport. They will also be expected to work in tandem with the IOC to ensure that boxers are represented in its athletes’ commission.

Month: Current Affairs - November, 2019