IBF looking for a foreign coach for women

"We have been searching for a foreign coach for women but not being able to get a suitable one yet," the Secretary General of IBF, P K Murlidharan Raja, said.

"It is not that we didn't get anyone but the things could not be finalised because to language barriers," he added.

Raja explained that even though a number of coaches, including from Russia, approached but they needed a full-time interpreter, which was not possible to provide.

"We are negotiating with some coaches but nothing is final," said Raja, expressing hope of roping in a foreign coach soon.

He also said that IBF, which had its annual general meeting here yesterday, has taken some decision to promote the boxing as well as the boxers.

"IBF has approved a proposal to hold Indian Boxing league on the lines of Indian Premier League (IPL) from second half of this year, probably in September," said Raja.

Initially, the IBL will be conducted in four cities for men only and a Mumbai-based company -- Percept D-Mark -- has own the franchise for the purpose.

"We have plans to organise the IBL in four franchise owned cities across the country and efforts are on to make it a success," he said.

Raja said that depending on the IBL's success, it will introduced for women as well.

"IBL will be a domestic affair and aimed to promote our boxers but we will allow a couple of foreign boxers, just like foreign cricketers play in the IPL," said Raja.

He, however, said the Federation was yet to decide on the about number of foreign pugilists to be allowed in the league.

"I do not think it should be more than two and they will be allowed in between weight category," he said.

"We also had plan to introduce 'fight nights', a tournament between two nations," he added, stating that while Pakistan has agreed to send their boxers, Australia was yet to respond to our proposal.

"The basic motive behind it was to promote boxing with some entertainments," he said.

Elaborating further on the decisions taken at the AGM, Raja said IBF made it mandatory for affiliated states as well as the boxers to take part in majority of the championships, organised by the apex body of the sport.

"The boxers will have to take part in at least three of the four major championships like Senior Nationals, Youth championship, Junior and Sub-junior national championships," he said.

"The participation of a reputed boxer in at least one major championship such as Federation Cup, Super Cup or National championship has been made mandatory," he added.

Stating that preparations for the London Olympics were on, he said they were chalking out plan for a camp, which would probably take place in March.

He said that IBF was also keeping in mind the new scoring systems introduced by the International body that will be implemented in the Junior and Youth World championship to be held in Antalya, Turkey in April.

A five-judge new scoring systems is aimed at reviving the old boxing comprising of strategy, style, scoring, etc. Also it would not only see high scoring bouts but also technique, perfect punches and footwork.

Meanwhile, claiming that India have bright prospect in the Olympics in both men's and women's sections, he said, "We have good boxers who can win medals in the lower weight category like in 51, 60 and 70 kgs.

"Our men will qualify in four out of ten weight categories in the Olympics next year, while two out of three in women section."

Raja further added that IBF also plans to send the boxers abroad for exposure, preferably in European circuit including Czech Republic to fine tune their skills before the London Olympics.