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What Comes Of Bearding A Lion

A P Kamath

Upset by the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association's "absurd" decision to cancel an entire boxing bout instead of allowing a unshaven Pradeep Singh Nagra participate, Sikhs across Canada are rallying behind the World Sikh Organization in Toronto that is taking the matter to court next week.

The WSO has also demanded that the national heritage minister, who is responsible for multiculturalism, religious heritage and amateur sports, ask the CABA to change its decision immediately.

Nagra, 29, had won a ruling from a court earlier last week which had said he could participate in the boxing bout with or without his beard.

But CABA canceled the event, ostensibly because it did not want to flout the ban set by international boxing authorities on facial hair.

Its spokesman said that it cancelled the boxing bout because it wanted to review legal aspects of the case. Besides, the spokesperson said, CABA feared all its boxers would be disqualified at the Olympic hustings if CABA were to let Nagra box despite the international ban on beards.

Sikh leaders argued that there was no ban on mustaches in certain boxing associations and the international boxing associations should be aware of the religious and human rights of people who do not want to shave their head or beard.

"I cannot believe that CABA or anyone believes that facial hair could get into the eyes of an opponent and cause a lot of damage," said Gurinder Bajwa, a realtor when he heard of CABA's objection. "How about the hair on the head? Why are the boxers not asked to shave their heads?"

He also pointed out that Nagra uses a net to cover his beard during the fight, and that Nagra himself has said that other boxers did not object to the beard.

Meanwhile, Anne Lowthian, the WSO executive-director, explained why Sheila Copps, the heritage minister should intervene.

CABA gets about $ 500,000 each year from the heritage ministry, which, among other things, also looks after amateur sports, WSO leader said.

Earlier WSO had said that Nagra, whose claim to wear turban and beard had been vindicated by human rights organizations and courts who believed his fight was not for Sikh rights alone. Every Canadian would benefit by Nagra's victory, Lowthian said, adding that it will strengthen the concept of religious and human rights.

EARLIER REPORT:
Boxer Nagra's Legal Fights Mount

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