Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has accused Col Arun Malik (Retd), Executive Director and interim committee member of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), of “disrespectful and gender-discriminatory behaviour.“The reigning world middleweight champion and Khel Ratna awardee stated that the episode “left me deeply hurt, disheartened, and questioning the respect and dignity we, as women athletes, truly receive.”However, Malik had denied all allegations. “Lovlina is the pride of the nation, and we at BFI take immense pride in her achievements, especially her Olympic bronze,” Malik said in a statement. “I respectfully and categorically deny the allegations levelled. The call in question was thoroughly professional in its entirety.
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“It was attended by officials from SAI and TOPS and was officially recorded by the host. The same recording is with the respective officials for review. Matters raised by Lovlina were duly noted and addressed in line with BFI’s established policies, which apply uniformly to all athletes.”Lovlina Borgohain is set to take place in Liverpool in September.The 20-member squad was finalised after the boxers went through a week-long assessment at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala.The tournament, to be held from September 4 to 14, will be the first World Championships held under the aegis of the new governing body of the sport, World Boxing.It will feature competitions in 10 weight classes for men and women. It will also be for the first time ever that male and female boxers would compete in an Olympics-style boxing at the same event for the title of World Boxing Champion.Borgohain had missed the women’s nationals in March.The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Borgohain had missed the event as the Assam state unit refused to send her due to infighting in the federation.
