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Indian boxers to grace WSB
The next season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB), the high profile world league started by International Boxing Association (AIBA) in September 2010, is set to see a team from India.
The next season of the World Series of Boxing (WSB), the high profile world league started by International Boxing Association (AIBA) in September 2010, is set to see a team from India.
AIBA gave the nod to Mumbai-based sports infrastructure company 'TransStadia' as an Indian franchise that will be included in the second season of the WSB.
"The AIBA has cleared the name of the TransStadia as an Indian franchise for the WSB and have sent the official confirmation to the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF)," said a source close to both TransStadia and IBF. "No Indian got a chance in the ongoing WSB but next season they will get a chance to prove their worth in the world league. It will further improve the level of Indian boxing and will play a crucial role in popularizing the sport," said one Beijing Olympic boxer. "Now boxers will also be paid. If not like cricketers at least it's a start," he added.
Videocon had been selected as one of the 12 global franchisees for last season but had pulled out over disagreements with regard to the signing of some top Indian boxers.
"The pulling out of Videocon from WSB put the IBF in to a tight spot and AIBA was also annoyed. The AIBA was not giving permission to IBF to hold its own domestic league because of that. Everything has been sorted out with AIBA now and we can also hold our own franchise based Indian Boxing League," said a senior IBF official. "The selection of the boxers is on and soon everything related to its participation in WSB will be finalized," said a source close to TransStadia.
