Home
After World Boxing created an interim committee to administer the sport in India, the tussle to take over the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) took a new turn. A six-member group headed by BFI president Ajay Singh was appointed by WA president Boris van der Vorst to oversee the daily operations of the sport in India. In his letter, van Vorst stated that the purpose of the interim committee was to protect the rights and interests of Indian boxers and maintain administrative continuity until elections were held and a new democratic executive committee was chosen.
Olympian L Sarita Devi, a member of the Indian Olympic Association, executive director Arun Malik, and BFI vice-president Narender Kumar Nirwan are all on the committee. Fairuz Mohamed, the president of the Singapore Boxing Association, has also been proposed to join the committee as a World Boxing observer.
An Interim Committee can be composed with immediate effect for a period not exceeding 90 days which can comprise the following:
1) Mr. Ajay Singh, President BFI-Chairman
2) Narender Kumar Nirwan, Vice President BFI-Member
3) Mr. Arun Malik, Executive Director BFI – Member
4) L. Sarita Devi, Olympian-Member
5) One nominee of the National Olympic Committee (IOA) to be nominated in
consultation with the President IOA – Member
6) Mr. Fairuz, President Singapore Boxing Association, Representative from World
Boxing- Observer (to observe and validate the work of this committee)
The elections were supposed to take place on March 28, but legal cases caused them to be postponed even before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) could be called. Anurag Thakur, a former sports minister, was nominated by the Himachal state body to represent it at the AGM, which caused problems. However, because Thakur was not an elected executive member, the Returning Officer, Justice RK Gauba, decided that he could not participate in the election process.
In the Delhi High Court, the Delhi Amateur Boxing Association, which was also removed from the voting rolls, disputed the order, as did Thakur in the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Then, on suspicion of financial impropriety, Ajay Singh suspended Digvijay Singh as treasurer and Hemanta Kalita as secretary of the BFI. The committee's duties include organizing domestic contests, selecting Indian teams for international tournaments, and ensuring administrative continuity. Its maximum term is ninety days.
This Interim Committee is being formed to provide administrative continuity and safeguard the rights and interests of Indian boxers until elections are held and a new democratic executive committee is elected. The Interim Committee should be entrusted with the following responsibilities:
1. Day-to-day management of BFI’s affairs, ensuring administrative continuity;
2. Organization of domestic boxing competitions, including National Championships in a fair, transparent, and inclusive manner and taking all steps necessary to ensure participation;
3. Selection of Indian boxing teams for international events on the basis of selection policy in a timely manner;
4. Coordination with SAI, IOA, and relevant national stakeholders to protect the interests of Indian boxing and its athletes;
5. Overseeing financial matters, including the operation and management of BFI’s bank accounts, to ensure transparency and discipline;
6. Representing BFI in all ongoing and future legal proceedings, with the authority to act in the best interests of the Federation;
7. Initiating the revision and alignment of the BFI Constitution in line with World Boxing’s statutes and Indian legal requirements;
8. Resolve issues related to the registration and legality of the Indian boxing body;
9. Ensuring India’s preparedness to host the World Boxing Finals and World Boxing Congress, both of which remain important milestones for Indian and World Boxing;
10. Facilitating the conduct of free, fair, and legally compliant elections for the BFI at the earliest feasible opportunity.
ADVERTISEMENT
