Less than three months remain until the Asian Games, the inaugural qualification tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bhaskar Bhatt, coach of the Indian women’s boxing national team, has resigned. An official from the Boxing Federation of India confirmed that Bhatt has been transferred back to Rohtak’s National Centre of Excellence in boxing by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).
However, Bhatt has not provided any comment on the matter. Meanwhile, the national women’s boxing camp, dedicated to Asian Games preparation, has been ongoing at Patiala’s National Institute of Sports (NIS) since April.
In November 2021, Bhatt took on the role of leading the elite women’s squad. The national team showcased their prowess at the March 2023 International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championship, delivering an impressive performance.
Under Bhatt’s guidance, the women’s team rose to third place in the world rankings, surpassing countries like the USA and Cuba. Reports suggest that differences between Bhatt and the High-Performance Director, Bernard Dunne, regarding the new selection policy played a role in his resignation.
The new policy, which eliminates trials and introduces an evaluation process during the national camp, has faced legal challenges in the past. With the Asian Games serving as the first qualification event for the Paris Olympics 2024, ensuring a positive camp environment becomes crucial for the Boxing Federation of India.
