NEW DELHI: Months of uncertainty marked by governance issues, turf wars, and internal power struggles are set to end as the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) holds its long-delayed elections on Thursday. The hope is that attention will finally return to the action inside the ring.
Two-time president Ajay Singh is seeking a third consecutive term. The SpiceJet MD has remained a central figure in Indian boxing even after the tenure of previous office-bearers ended on February 2. Until earlier this month, Singh also headed the World Boxing-appointed interim committee overseeing BFI’s daily operations, highlighting his continued influence within the global body.
During his interim tenure, new coaches were appointed for both the men’s and women’s teams, the federation’s constitution was amended, and the controversial selection assessment process was revised. A new system for national camp selections has also been implemented. Notably, the interim committee under Singh appointed Kerala state unit chief D. Chandralal—who had contested the presidency in March—as head coach of the women’s team.
Earlier this month, the committee also lifted the suspension of former secretary general Hemanta Kalita ahead of the polls. Both Chandralal and Kalita are eligible to vote in the upcoming elections.
However, the committee’s legitimacy has faced scrutiny. The Indian Olympic Association’s fact-finding commission recommended its dissolution for violating the National Sports Code, 2011. Several state units have also challenged the constitutional amendments introduced by the interim body. While the Delhi High Court has permitted the elections to proceed, the results will remain subject to the outcome of ongoing legal cases.
The ongoing power struggle has already affected athletes. Factional disputes delayed the women’s Nationals, and under the new Olympic cycle introduced by the 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 had only one. With major competitions like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games scheduled for next year, the stakes are high.
Singh’s sole challenger is 1984 Olympian and Sikkim state unit chief Jaslal Pradhan, expected to receive backing from rival state units including Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi. This faction has accused Singh of running the federation autocratically, citing decisions such as appointing foreign coaches without consulting the BFI executive committee.
If Pradhan wins, it remains unclear whether the new executive committee will retain existing systems, potentially disrupting boxers’ training and development. Originally scheduled for March 28, the elections were delayed for nearly six months due to multiple petitions and appeals, but will finally take place this week.
