Has Sarita row claimed Fernandez's job?
Source: The Sangai Express

Patiala, February 03 2015: One of the biggest controversies in Indian boxing in recent times - L Sarita Devi's refusal to accept the bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games -may hit Indian boxing harder than expected.

The man who trained India's top boxers for two decades and played a key role in taking the sport to new heights in the country , has packed his bags and gone back home to Cuba.

Coach Blas Iglesias Fernandez, who has been honoured with the Dronacharya award, left for Havana recently with no return ticket in his pocket.

He has been banned by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for two years for supporting Sarita in Incheon.

Blas Iglesias Fernandez

Sources in Sports Authority of India (SAI) told TOI that Fernandez's contract expires on February 7 and there is no sign it being renewed.

"I am going back to Cuba.

I don't know if I am going back on leave or forever," he quipped, before flying out on January 29 .

"I will meet SAI officials to put my case before them" .

Sarita Devi had staged a protest after losing the semifinal bout to a South Korean boxer and refused to accept the bronze medal on the podium.

While the ban on other officials was revoked, the ban on Fernandez stayed.

Fernandez, along with chief coach GS Sandhu, was instrumental in shaping the careers of iconic boxers like Dingko Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar.

A senior official of SAI said, "Boxing India (BI) has requested AIBA to reduce the quantum of Fernandez's punishment.

We will be more than happy to take him back but only after AIBA takes a call" .

S S Roy, regional director, SAI, who also heads Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, where Fernandez trained Indian boxers for over 20 years, said: "We have yet not received any intimation from higher authorities regarding Fernandez's extension" .

When TOI spoke to Fernandez, he said he was hopeful that his association with Indian boxing would continue despite the ban.

FERNANDEZ'S CHAMPS .

Dingko Singh: Was conferred the Padma Shri in 2013; he won the gold in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games in the 58 kg bantamweight category.

Shiva Thapa: Youngest Indian boxer to qualify for Olympics, Shiva is the third Indian male boxer to bag gold in the Asian Games.

He participated in the London Olympics.

Manoj Kumar: He fetched gold in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games in the light welterweight category and represented India in the 2012 London Olympics.