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SAI sanction letter has omitted 40 boxers from national camp and with BFI seeks resolution the assessment has been delayed to May 6.
The assessment process was originally scheduled to begin on May 5. (Representative Image/AP)
As many as 40 boxers are facing uncertainty after being left out of the sanction letter issued by the Sports Authority of India for the national camp, casting doubt over their participation in the selection assessment process for this year’s Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
According to the selection policy of the Boxing Federation of India, the top two finishers across 20 weight categories – 10 each in the men’s and women’s sections – at the Chief of Army Staff Cup (COAS), held from March 30 to April 5, were to be included in the national camp scheduled to begin on April 25.
The policy, released in December last year, states that these 40 boxers would be eligible for the assessment trials, which will determine India’s squads for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and the World Boxing Cup 2.
However, the sanction letter received by the BFI on April 29 did not include the names of these boxers.
“The sanction was received on 29th April 2026, and 40 names are currently missing from the list,” the federation said in a notification on Friday.
It is understood that the BFI has been in constant communication with the Sports Authority of India to resolve the issue but has yet to receive a response.
The assessment process, originally scheduled to begin on May 5, has now been delayed by a day and will commence on May 6 due to the uncertainty surrounding the missing names.
“We were told winning the COAS Cup will get us to the camp. It is the same policy as last year so I don’t know what the issue is. This is the only way of getting into the camp and vying for the CWG and Asian Games as I missed the Nationals due to injury.
“I am just hoping the sanction letter arrives over the weekend so that I can reach the camp on time and take part in the assessment,” one of the 40 boxers told news agency PTI.
Under the revised schedule, the assessment will be conducted in two phases. Strength and conditioning tests will be held on May 6 and 7, followed by sparring bouts from May 11 to 15 in a knockout format to determine final standings across weight categories.
The evaluation carries a total of 200 marks, combining both technical and non-technical parameters. Non-technical components – including attendance, weight management, health management, international potential, and strength and conditioning – will contribute to the overall score alongside technical assessments conducted by a panel of evaluators.
Rankings within each weight category will be determined through a structured knockout format.
The Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2, while the Asian Games are scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya.
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