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Amateur Boxing Association chief re-elected
By M. Shamil Amit
In a country where sporting bodies are often embroiled in controversy and misgivings when electing new members, here is a good example of a head of a national sport body being re-elected to serve another term as the head of the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA).

Dian Gomes the incumbent president of ABA was unanimously elected by its members to serve another term at the annual AGM of the ABA held at the new headquarters in Reid Avenue. Having completed a truly remarkable year at the top seat of ABA. Gomes's leadership qualities as the Manager of Sara Lee Courtaulds-MAS Holdings gave him the much-needed exposure to lead the ABA to great heights during his first year.

Speaking to the Sunday Times he said I don't wait for laurels and I want people who are doers and not talkers. At the ABA we focused on what we want to achieve during the year and I was glad that we almost fulfilled our aims. He does not want to bask on things what he had done, but proudly speaks of the commitment of his team as the sole renaissance of boxing in the past year.

On a personal level, Gomes even started to get creative and began to charge for the various corporate lectures he was conducting and which he did free of charge until he became president of ABA. He channeled the monies he charged, straight into the ABA coffers, helping to garner more than a million rupees during the year.

This also enabled the ABA to send boxers to participate in international meets and get the much-needed international exposure. During his first term he introduced boxing to schools in the Wayamba district by providing the necessary equipments. The ABA were able extend the contract of the present national Cuban Loius Frometa who has been of immense help to the local boxers.

Going back to the interview he had with Sunday Times when he was elected for the first time. Gomes has done more than what he had mentioned and looking forward to his future plans.

He said I am going to give the boxers as much international meets as possible. Next month seven of our boxers will leave for Thailand to participate in an international meet. In July the ABA will be conducting a dual meet with Philippines.

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