Boxing Federation Of India Braces For Polls After Months Of Turmoil

Last Updated:August 20, 2025, 23:47 IST

The Boxing Federation of India will hold elections Thursday. Ajay Singh seeks a third term, facing Jaslal Pradhan.

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Months of uncertainty due to governance issues, turf wars, and internal power struggles are set to end with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) holding its long-delayed elections on Thursday.

The hope is that action inside the ring will finally reclaim the spotlight.

Ajay Singh, the two-time president, is seeking a third consecutive term. The SpiceJet MD has remained a central figure in Indian boxing even after the tenure of the previous office-bearers expired on February 2.

Until early this month, he also headed the World Boxing-appointed interim committee that managed BFI’s daily affairs, an arrangement seen as a sign of his influence with the newly-formed world body.

During this period, new coaches were appointed for the men’s and women’s teams, the constitution was amended, and the controversial selection assessment process was tweaked. A revised system for national camp selections is also in place.

Interestingly, the interim committee under Singh named Kerala state unit chief D. Chandralal, one of the candidates for the president’s post during the March elections, as head coach of the women’s team.

Earlier this month, the interim committee also lifted the suspension of former secretary general Hemanta Kalita in the run-up to the polls.

Both Chandralal and Kalita will vote in the elections.

However, the committee’s legitimacy has been under scrutiny. The Indian Olympic Association’s fact-finding commission recommended its termination for violating the National Sports Code, 2011.

Additionally, several state units have taken legal action against the constitutional amendments introduced by the interim body.

Although the Delhi High Court has allowed the elections to proceed, it has made the results subject to the final outcome of the ongoing case.

The power struggle has already taken a toll on athletes. Factional fights delayed the women’s Nationals. And in the new Olympic cycle, which began under a new global governing body, Indian boxers are still adjusting to revised weight categories.

While male boxers have competed in two international events, their female counterparts have managed only one. With major events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games scheduled for next year, the stakes are high.

Singh’s only challenger is 1984 Olympian and Sikkim state unit chief Jaslal Pradhan, who is expected to be backed by the rival bloc comprising Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi units.

The faction has accused Singh of running the federation in an autocratic manner, citing decisions such as the appointment of foreign coaches without consultation with the BFI executive committee.

If Pradhan wins, it is uncertain whether the new executive committee will retain existing systems. Changes could potentially disrupt boxers’ training and development.

Elections were originally slated for March 28 but were stalled by a barrage of petitions, appeals, and counter-appeals. Nearly six months later, the elections will finally take place.

(With PTI Inputs)

Aakash Biswas

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ...Read More

A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ...

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First Published:

August 20, 2025, 23:47 IST

News sports Boxing Federation Of India Braces For Polls After Months Of Turmoil

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