Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2010:
Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren has written to Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports MS Gill for intervention in the controversy surrounding the last minute trial selection of women boxers to represent India in the Asian Games to be held at Beijing, China this year.
In his letter to the Union Minister, Biren pointed out that L Sarita Devi was selected to represent the country in 51-kg category women boxing even of the upcoming Asian Games to be held in China in the selection process held at Bhopal from August 20 to 21.However, by virtue of another trial selection held recently, Mary Kom, who won the World Women Boxing Championship held in the West Indies in the 48-kg category, has been selected to represent the country in place of Sarita Devi.
Both the champions being Manipuris, it is indeed unfortunate that one of them has been denied the opportunity to take part in the competition in which women boxing has been included for the first time, Biren said, while seeking the intervention of the Union Minister to see that the Indian Boxing Federation allows both Sarita Devi and Mary Kom to represent the country in the upcoming Asian Games.