Boxing
Boxer Sarita Devi elected unopposed as member of AIBA athletes' commission
Indian National boxing champion and former world champion pugilist Laishram Sarita Devi has been elected unopposed as a member of first-ever athletes' commission at the Internation Boxing Association (AIBA) to represent the Asian bloc.
According to the reports of PTI, L Sarita Devi was the sole candidate from Asia, running for the position at the athletes' commission of AIBA. The commission includes one male and one female boxer from each of the five regional confederation - The Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania.
In a letter to Sarita, AIBA’s interim president Mohamed Moustahsane officially informed the Indian ace boxer about her inclusion in the prestigious committee. "It is my great pleasure to inform you that you were uncontestably elected as AIBA Athlete Commission member," Moustahsane wrote.
“I am confident that with your knowledge and experience, you will be an important contributor to the activities of the Commission,” he added.
AIBA has confirmed that six boxers from 5 continents were elected as members of athletes' commission at the Internation Boxing Association. Two of them - one male and one female boxer will be elected as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, who will serve as the EC members at AIBA.
The commission is also a part of the reforms that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had recommended to the AIBA. The athletes' commission members at AIBA would be responsible for bridging the gap between the International Boxing Association and the players to bring more transparency in the sport.
The 37-year-old has won eight medals at the Asian Championship, including five gold medals. In 2009, Sarita Devi was also awarded by the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Government of India for her incredible achievements in the boxing ring.
Furthermore, Laishram Sarita Devi is an athlete representative in the executive committee of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and the BFI only nominated her for her position in AIBA.
