Indian boxing finds itself at crossroads one more time

Boxing in India finds itself at the crossroads yet again, with the Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha’s nominating an ad hoc committee to oversee the running of the sport. She cited a delay in the holding of the Boxing Federation of India elections and  non-participation of boxers in national and international events in the recent months.

On his part, Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh has claimed that the IOA President’s action of appointing an ad hoc committee violated the autonomy of a National Sports Federation. He appears to have reserved comment on the key issues raised in the order, especially the competition inertia of boxers. 

The Boxing Federation has seemed beleaguered for a while and a house divided, with many State Associations demanding elections but the leadership dragging its feet. To some, it has come as a surprise that the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had not acted against the delay in elections as it had done in the Paralympic Committee of India’s case last year.

The Ministry had suspended the Paralympic body barely two days after the four-year term of its elected executive committee had lapsed. It cited an intentional delay in the conduct of the elections and directed the Sports Authority of India to form an ad hoc committee in coordination with the International Paralympic Committee.

NSFs secure post-dated recognition again

Digressing for a moment, it must be said that the Ministry has granted post-dated annual recognition to National Sports Federations last month for the second year running. By giving recognition for 2024 in January 2025, the decision-making process has embraced tokenism, inordinately delaying legitimacy to the assistance provided to the Federations through the year. 

Unquestionably, sports governance will get a leg up if every institution in the ecosystem enforces the norms equitably and without discrimination. It should not be the prerogative of individuals to decide whether a Federation can be recognised or not but that should be based on a system applicable across the board, with only the Minister granting any exemptions.

For instance, in some cases, Ministry officials cite the affiliation of a National Sports Federation with its respective International Federation as the reason for recognition. But in other cases – Wrestling, the Motor Sports and Taekwondo are some examples that spring to mind – it has kept their recognition pending despite international affiliation.

In recognising the case of golf, Ministry officials are on record as having said that the recognition for the IGU faction headed by Brijender Singh was granted on the basis of a report by the Ministry’s observer. They also took note of the fact that the International Golf Federation had updated its record with the newly elected persons on its website.

However, they have  kept wrestling, whose athletes have missed competing in two world ranking events, taekwondo and motor sports despite the Federations being affiliated to their International Federations. Such diverse action by officials will leave the Minister with no option to but to get more involved in ensuring a level playing field for all Federations.

IOA ad hoc panel for boxing for second time in 11 years

To return to boxing matters, it is not the first time that the Indian Olympic Association has appointed an ad hoc committee to run the affairs of boxing in the country. Back in 2014, on its return after a 14-month suspension by the International Olympic Committee, IOA executive committee had decided to appoint a six-member panel to oversee boxing in India. 

In December 2012, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) suspended the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation IABF) for manipulation in the elections. Then in March 2014, AIBA derecognised IABF. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports followed suit next month. And in 2017, the Ministry barred the IABF from using India in its name. 

Boxing India, formed in 2013, replaced IABF as the official federation charged with the task of developing and administering the sport in India. After holding its elections, it secured AIBA recognition in November 2014. It renamed itself Boxing Federation of India and held its election on September 25, 2016. The Ministry soon granted it recognition. 

In 2014, an ad hoc committee was named with Tarlochan Singh as its chairman and with GS Sandhu, Kishan Narsi, Mehtab Singh, Rakesh Gupta and Kuldip Vats as members. Later, IOA President N Ramachandran refused to recognise Boxing Federation of India even after AIBA had recognised it as the only National Federation for the sport in India. 

It was not after the International Olympic Committee wrote on February 7, 2017, directing IOA to grant affiliation to BFI that there was a change of heart. A few weeks later, IOA President N Ramachandran and Secretary General Rajeev Mehta wrote to BFI  but said the affiliation was subject to ratification by the IOA Executive Council/General Body.

This time around, it is likely that the matter will end up in a protracted legal battle, more so with allegations of corruption as well regarding the conduct of a talent hunt competition. And, it must be said that the IOA General Body, as and when it meets, will have quite a bit on its plate this time.