Punjab MP objects to ‘no-beard’ clause in boxing
By IANSFriday, April 23, 2010
CHANDIGARH - Punjab MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal Friday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get removed a new clause which bars bearded boxers from competing in national and international boxing events.
Badal pointed out that the ‘no-beard’ clause for boxing events would debar all Sikh boxers from participating in boxing events in future.
In a communication to the prime minister, Badal sought his intervention to ask union sports minister M.S. Gill to take up with the International Olympic Association (IOA) and International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) the issue of removing the clause barring bearded boxers from participating in national and international meets.
Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sports Minister M.S. Gill are Sikhs.
Badal said AIBA has sent directions to all national and state boxing bodies not to allow any bearded players and those with moustaches to participate in any national and international boxing meets.
She said secretary general of Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) P.K. Muralidharan Raja has warned state federations with disaffiliation if they send any bearded boxers for any national boxing meet.
Badal said the clause had left Sikh boxers anguished and an immediate correction was needed in this.
She pointed out that this direction by the federation has been issued despite the National Minorities Commission advising it to do away with this clause.
The Bathinda MP pointed out that this sensitive issue could blow up further as Punjab was scheduled to host the national youth boxing championship in June this year. She said the new clause would debar Sikh boxers from the host state from competing in the event.
Badal said Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is her husband and Punjab’s sports minister, had taken up this matter with IBF president Abhey Chautala but the latter has expressed his helplessness in altering any guidelines of AIBA, as it may disqualify the Indian team from participating in international boxing events.
She said the clause was discriminatory against Sikhs.
