Sports: Amid rising tensions within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), its president, Ajay Singh, has assured that Indian boxers will not miss any more international tournaments.
Addressing the media during the final day of the Women’s National Championships, Singh announced that national boxing camps would resume shortly, accompanied by a revamped coaching setup to prepare athletes for future competitions.
The assurance comes after a period of uncertainty following the Paris Olympics, during which Indian boxers missed several key international events, including the Asian Championships, Strandja Memorial, and the Women’s World Championships. While the men’s team is currently in Brazil to participate in the World Boxing Cup’s first stage, the women’s team missed the event due to prolonged delays in the National Championships, which concluded only on March 27. Singh emphasized that such setbacks would not recur, promising that both junior and sub-junior championships would also be held without further disruptions.
In a significant shift from its previous selection process, the BFI will now expand eligibility criteria for the national camps. Until now, only podium finishers from the National Championships were allowed to enter the camp. Under the new system, boxers will also be selected from two additional competitions—the REC Open Talent Hunt Program and the Chief of Army Staff Championship for men, with a similar yet-to-be-named championship for women. From these events, eight boxers will form a talent pool, with four ultimately chosen to represent India in the national camps. Singh believes this expanded system will provide more opportunities for promising athletes while maintaining high competitive standards.
Despite ongoing legal disputes delaying the BFI’s elections, Singh confirmed that the federation would not allow administrative roadblocks to hinder its operations. He asserted that the process of hosting camps, organizing championships, and appointing new coaching staff would continue without interruption. Singh also addressed criticism regarding the BFI’s previous assessment-based selection policy, which replaced traditional trials. While some believe trials should be reinstated, Singh argued that continuous evaluation throughout the year is a more effective method, although he left room for trials in closely contested situations.
The internal conflict within the BFI was highlighted during the Women’s National Championships, where several state units opposing Singh’s re-election boycotted the event. Despite the political turmoil, Singh assured that athletes would not be penalized for administrative disputes. He pledged to provide missed boxers with opportunities to compete in future championships, stating that their careers would not suffer due to the federation’s internal conflicts.
Singh reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring Indian boxers receive consistent support and exposure, stating that the federation’s priority remains the welfare and success of its athletes. As the BFI moves forward with its plans, the boxing community remains hopeful that these structural changes will lead to greater stability and more opportunities for Indian boxers on the international stage.
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