India is facing a resumption of its ban from international boxing after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) rejected Boxing India's application for national federation recognition, instead backing the controversial Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF).

This body, run by Ashok Matoria - the brother-in-law of Abhay Chautala, the IOA President when it served a 14-month suspension from the International Olympic Committee, lifted in February - was suspended by the Indian Government and International Boxing Association (AIBA) in December 2012 for not holding elections under the Olympic Charter.

But the IOA reached a unanimous decision at its Annual General Meeting in Chennai, India throwing up a difficult situation in which one body is recognised by its parent international body, while the other has the backing of the national apex sports body.

It thus leaves India at risk of a resumption of a ban from international events, lifted in February 2013 after a long-running dispute between the international body and the IABF.

"The matter was discussed at length and the Executive Committee was unanimous in its view that for the IOA, the recognised body will be the IABF," said current IOA President N. Ramachandran following the decision, flanked by secretary general Rajeev Mehta.

"There were disputes and IOA constituted an Ad Hoc Committee, but subsequently AIBA recognised Boxing India.

"IOA took up the matter with AIBA President [C K Wu].

"We wanted the elections to be held under the aegis of IOA with AIBA observers present.

"AIBA did not accept these suggestions and BI held its elections under the supervision of AIBA where neither Government of India nor IOA observers was present."

Speaking to The Times of India, BI President Sandeep Jajodia termed the move a "retrograde" one, adding that the IOA was indulging in "adhocism".

"This is an unfortunate development for boxing in the country," he said.

"We conducted free and fair elections in the presence of an AIBA observer.

"Within a month of being recognised by AIBA, we conducted the women's nationals and are set to hold the men's nationals in January.

"What logical reason does the IOA have for not offering us recognition and instead offering its support to a now-defunct IABF?

"This is nothing but an influenced move, a politically motivated one."

The AIBA bestowed full membership on BI in September, following which the latter applied to the IOA and Sports Ministry for recognition.

"Our view is that if an election of a sports federation in India is held it is but natural for the IOA to be informed," added Ramachandran.

"More so, when there is a dispute between two groups.

"Shutting out the IOA will not do good to any sport.

"Unilateral sanction by the international body cannot be accepted.

"There were numerous complaints that we received regarding irregularities during the elections.

"Autonomy of IOA cannot be compromised under any circumstance."

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The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has claimed there are positive signs for the nation's team ahead of Rio 2016 following the results of its latest benchmark study.

The research, which ranks nations by their overall medal tally from the year, sees Australia moving into sixth place with 42 medals - 13 gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze.

Ahead of them is China on top of the table with 79 medals, followed by the United States with 66, Russia with 60, and Germany and Great Britain both with 45.

Australia is seventh on the gold medal tally, behind China with 31, the US with 28, France with 19, Russia on 16, Japan on 15 and Germany on 14.

They are also a due one extra bronze medal, in athletics - which is not included in the study as the results are not available until the end of December - thanks to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games champion Dani Samuels finishing the year ranked third in the world in women's discus.

"The results are very encouraging...we are still a long way from Rio but they point to us building towards a successful Games," said AOC President and International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates.

"Twelve months ago we were sitting on 34 medals, 8 gold, 19 silver and seven bronze".

Just two months ago, Australia was in eighth position on 27 medals, but recent outstanding performances in swimming saw that tally increase by 15 medals - seven gold, four silver and four bronze.

Britain, France and Japan will all improve when the end year athletics' rankings are released, it is acknowledged, with France moving past Australia to sixth and Japan drawing equal on seventh in total medals, while maintaining their lead over Australia in gold.

"We are lower on the gold medal tally, but remain hopeful our athletes will convert some of the 29 silver and bronze medals into gold come 2016," Coates added.

"A top five finish is an aspirational goal and we unashamedly strive to be back up there with the best again.

"Our hockey men and women are at the top of their game [two medals].

"Our cyclists continue to perform [six medals].

"Sailing is maintaining its results from London 2012 [four medals], rowing [four medals], canoe/kayak [three medals] and diving and shooting [two each].

"We are optimistic when it comes to the new sports, golf and rugby sevens and as always our women's basketball team is up there with the best.

"Twenty sixteen may also see our very talented men's basketball team reach the podium."

Australia expects to send at least 470 athletes to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics, which is due to take place from August 5 to 21.

The nation ranked 10th overall at the London 2012 Games, with a total of 35 medals - seven gold, 16 silver and 12 bronze.

It was their lowest performance since Seoul 1988, when they had finished 15th.

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The Amateur Swimming Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ASATT) held their awards for the years 2012 and 2013 at the Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s, on Tuesday.

….First Caribbean athlete to win collegiate’s top track & field honour

Lewis Hamilton defied the heavy favouritism bestowed on Rory McIlroy, as the Formula One world champion won the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award in Glasgow on Sunday evening.

With minutes to go before the winner was announced, McIlroy was heavily favoured to become the first golfer in 25 years to lift the trophy. Instead, Hamilton prevailed with 209, 920 telephone votes from 620,932 cast, with the golfer edged into second place on 123, 745. Athlete Jo Pavey, a source of inspiration to many on account of distance running heroics, took third on 99,931 votes.

Hamilton, who later admitted he would have voted for McIlroy were he watching at home, seemed slightly shocked when addressing the 12,000 crowd at the SSE Hydro arena. “I really wasn’t expecting that,” he said, “especially as I was watching all of the videos during the awards. We are really talking about some of the great sportspeople of our time.

“I am really, really taken aback. I am overwhelmed and feel so honoured. I have an amazing following but you never know how well you are appreciated throughout the whole of the UK. I would have been proud just to be amongst these people, who have done such amazing things.

“When I was growing up in Stevenage, of course I wanted to be a racing driver and be the best in the world but I didn’t ever contemplate all the people who would support or follow me. I just wanted to be the best.”

Damon Hill, in 1996, was the last Formula One driver to win the BBC title.

McIlroy was gracious in defeat, despite being entitled to feel disappointed. This was a year in which the 25-year-old claimed two major championships and surged back to the top of the world rankings.

“Lewis has had a fantastic year so I have no complaints,” said the Northern Irishman. “This was his second world championship and he dominated the F1 season.

“I had a lot of support out there. To finish second is still a great achievement. Hopefully if I can achieve just as much next year, if not more, I can go one better.”

McIlroy’s fellow golfer Ian Poulter took to Twitter to suggest it was ridiculous that McIlroy was upstaged by Hamilton.

Golf was represented among the winners, though. Paul McGinley, who masterminded Europe’s comprehensive success over the United States at the Ryder Cup, was presented with the coach of the year award. The Irishman paid special tribute “first and foremost to the people of Scotland” for their backing of the European cause at Gleneagles.

McGinley added: “It was very much a team effort, I had a lot of people in place to help me. It has been a wonderful time in my life. People are very gracious, they say lovely things. What has pleased me most is seeing the pride they have.”

The England women’s rugby union team, who claimed the World Cup with a victory over Canada in Paris, was named as the team of the year. Their captain, Katy McLean, hailed this recognition as “a massive turning point for women’s sport”.

Former cyclist Sir Chris Hoy was presented with a lifetime achievement award by Prince Harry and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo appeared via recorded video message after being named as the overseas sports personality of the year.

“This really is incredibly special to me,” said Hoy. “I thought my days of getting emotional were over when I retired but it’s impossible not to be when you hear such special words. I feel like the luckiest guy around, I can’t believe I was able to do what I love for so many years.

“I looked at some of the names who have won this trophy before me, Seve Ballesteros, Pele, Martina Navratilova. To have my name beside them is quite surreal.”

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