Assam Boxer Shiva Thapa Part of IOA’s Ad-Hoc Committee to Run Boxing Federation of India

NEW DELHI: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday appointed an ad-hoc committee to manage the affairs of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) after the federation failed to conduct its elections on time.

The committee will be led by Jharkhand Olympic Association general secretary Madhukant Pathak. Other members include BFI vice-president Rajesh Bhandari, boxing officials DP Bhatt and Virendra Singh Thakur, and Assam boxer Shiva Thapa.

According to the IOA, the ad-hoc committee’s primary responsibilities will be to ensure the smooth functioning of BFI’s activities until free and fair elections are conducted. The committee has been tasked with addressing grievances within the boxing community, facilitating athlete participation in international competitions, and expediting the long-pending elections.

The move follows the expiration of the current BFI office-bearers’ tenure on February 2. However, the election process has been stalled due to a legal dispute over previous election results, which were ruled against BFI.

“The IOA has been closely monitoring the administrative affairs of BFI. As per governing norms, elections were to be conducted on or before February 2, 2025. However, the prescribed timeline was not met, leading to administrative instability,” IOA president PT Usha stated.

Usha further revealed that she has received multiple complaints from stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and officials, regarding the “non-participation” of Indian boxers in national and international events. The Women’s National Championships have already been postponed twice.

“This situation is detrimental to the growth and performance of Indian boxing on the global stage and necessitates immediate corrective measures,” Usha added. The IOA’s decision aims to restore stability within the BFI and ensure the uninterrupted progress of Indian boxing in the coming months.

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