School boxers eager to showcase their talents and skills in a competition held after more than a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic endured heartbreak after the eligibility criteria for participation was changed by officials at the last minute.
There was much enthusiasm when the Schools Boxing Association (SBA) announced that a selection trial meet would be conducted for the ASBC Asian Junior and Youth Men and Women Boxing Championships 2021 to be held in Dubai, UAE in August.
The trials held at the Royal MAS Arena during the weekend attracted a flood of entries since an initial circular issued by the tournament organisers the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) stated gold or silver medal winners at the past SBA or BASL conducted boxing tournaments could take part.
However, just days before the event it was revised to state that due to a large number of entries received, the BASL after consultation with the Boxing Selection Committee and as per the guidelines given by the Ministry of Education decided that only boxers who had been winner or runner-up in major school meet like the Stubbs Shield or Junior Championships are eligible to compete.
At least 14 boxers who had come from places like Kandy and Kamburupitiya were left in the lurch after arriving in Colombo. They were dismayed when told just before the draw took place that they could not participate even after they had completed the weigh-in.
The reason given was winners of novice meets were not eligible to take part in selection trials. Only winners or runners-up of major meets like the Layton Cup, Clifford Cup and Nationals are eligible to take part in national selection trials.
Trinity College, Kandy Master-in-charge of boxing Aslam Marikar who had brought two winners of the L.V. Jayaweera and T.B. Jayah meets Themiya Herath and Ryan Weerasekera fumed in protest at the treatment meted out to boxers who had trained hard to compete in this event at short noice.
“What was more infuriating was the callous attitude of boxing officials who dismissed our protests without even an apology. They admitted it was a mistake,” said Marikar.
SBA and BASL officials were not available for comment but observers felt the additional entries could have been accommodated to select the best available talent since school recommenced after a long break.