Scoring was rigged, judging unfair, says Amit Panghal | Boxing News – Times of India

Boxer Amit Panghal fumes after losing bout in Asian Boxing Championships final
NEW DELHI: Top India boxer Amit Panghal has claimed the scoring in his high-octane clash against Shakhobidin Zoirov in the 52kg final of the Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai was “rigged”. He added that the judges officiating the bout wanted the reigning Olympic and World champion Uzbek pugilist to win because of the “influence” wielded by powerful boxing federations from the Central Asian regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Panghal, one of the country’s strong medal hopes in Tokyo, lost a close 2-3 final bout against Zoirov in the flyweight category of the Asian meet on Monday evening, despite performing exceedingly well in second and third rounds. The controversial decision was promptly challenged by the Indian team management but wasn’t accepted by the jury, which refused to review the bout.

The scoring was rigged…the judging was unfair. I was robbed of a deserved win. I should have been given the second round 5-0, but it was ruled in my favour with a split 3-2 decision. Then, in the third, I was expecting the score 4-1 or 3-2 in my favour as I was clearly ahead of Zoirov. But the decision went in his favour with a 3-2 verdict. This was deliberately done to make him the champion. The coaches and the people who know boxing told me that I was the deserved winner. That’s why the decision was contested,” Panghal told TOI on his return to India.
Panghal also wasn’t entirely happy with the team management’s ‘symbolic’ protest. “When the bout wasn’t reviewed, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) did nothing to take up the matter strongly with the jury commission. They said it can’t be reviewed and that’s it, we accepted the defeat. When Sakshi (Chaudhary) had won and the decision was challenged by the Kazakh team management, the result of the bout was overturned in favour of their boxer (Dina Zholaman). In my case, the protest wasn’t even taken up. We are doing so much as a boxer to bring glory to the nation, the federation should also stand up for us. I believe that all three rounds were won by me but I was declared winner in just one round. A strong protest should have been lodged and the team management must have ensured that the decision is overturned in my favour,” he added.

Panghal was also miffed with the BFI and Indian coaches’ decision to not allow his childhood coach Anil Dhankar to accompany him during international tournaments. Dhankar is part of the national camp as Panghal’s personal coach. “Had he been there in Dubai, who knows I would have returned with a gold. The only thing which can cost me my gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics will be the absence of my coach Dhankar. I want him in my corner during the Olympics at any cost. I am confident of defeating Zoirov with Dhankar guiding me during tournaments. He has known me since childhood and I am comfortable training under him. It was because of him that my endurance level has improved and I can fight with the same intensity and aggressiveness till the third round. If the BFI won’t name him for Tokyo, I’ll approach the sports ministry and the SAI to get his name included.” Panghal had travelled with the team to three international meets this year to Spain (Boxam tournament), Russia (Governor’s Cup) and Dubai (Asian meet) without Dhankar by his side.
“I sorely felt his absence during the Asian meet. I missed him in my corner during all three of my bouts. Look, at the national camp, I was coached by Santiago Nieva, C A Kuttappa, Jai Singh Patil and Dhankar. I learn the art of boxing from everyone. It’s just during international tournaments that I want Dhankar to accompany me and guide me through my bouts,” he signed off.