Boxing entries sliced by third

Press, 25 July 1986, Page 20

Boxing entries sliced by third

From KEVIN TUTTY in Edinburgh

Boxing bouts will be sliced by a third at the Commonwealth Games because of the mass boycott by African, Asian and Caribbean nations. The chairman of the sports committee for the Games, Mr Jack Hall, confirmed yesterday that there were 86 entries. Originally 120 to 130 competitors were expected for the boxing competition. Wrestling and weightlifting have also been badly affected and Mr Hall said that in the wrestling event, the maximum number of entries in any one division was six. The minimum was three. Wrestling traditionally has low entries so the boycott

will mean a very small competition. Mr Hall tried to brush over the boycott by saying that the number of competitiors and officials at the Games would still be greater than at Brisbane four years ago, and a record for the Commonwealth event. “We will still have world-class competitions with people of the calibre of Coe, Cram and Ovett competing.”

Mr Hall confirmed that other nations had been asked to add athletes to their teams, but Wales was the only country to do so. It had added 11 competitors to its original team.

Queried as to whether the organising • committee had helped Wales financially in getting its extra athletes to Edinburgh, Mr Hall said he could not comment. That was a

matter between the organising executive and the Welsh Commonwealth Games Association.

Asked if some competitors would be assured of a medal before they started competition — in events where there are only three entries — Mr- Hall said he could not comment. That was for the Commonwealth Games Federation to decide.

Boxing may have to drop one of its 11 scheduled sessions, said Mr Hall, and there would be some rescheduling of other events, but he denied that the premier sport, track and field, would have long, tedious waits for competitors and spectators, between events.

He gave the impression that the boycott had given the track and field organisers some much needed breathing space.