Indian Boxing Federation Faces Internal Dispute Amid Olympic Preparations
Ongoing Dispute in Indian Boxing Federation
In New Delhi, the president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), Ajay Singh, has expressed concern over the internal conflict within the federation, which has escalated to legal proceedings following the suspension of secretary general Pramod Kumar. Singh emphasized that this turmoil should not hinder the preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered that a Special General Meeting (SGM), initiated by Kumar to propose a no-confidence motion against Singh, be postponed until the next court session on November 13. Kumar was suspended on October 14 due to allegations of financial misconduct and administrative failures.
Singh remarked, "It is unfortunate that this issue has reached the courts, but we must prioritize our Olympic preparations and focus on boxing. The legal matters will be resolved in due course, and we are confident of a favorable outcome, as our constitution is clear."
Tensions escalated on October 28 when a faction within the BFI, claiming support from 28 state units, approached Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, seeking intervention regarding alleged governance issues within the federation.
Eight of the 13 members of the BFI executive committee, including Kumar, attended the meeting, which was initially intended to be an SGM for the no-confidence motion against Singh.
This faction accused Singh of centralizing power, marginalizing elected officials, and undermining democratic practices. They also raised concerns about amendments to the BFI constitution, grassroots development, the competition schedule, and outstanding payments for technical officials.
In response, Singh dismissed the claims of support from the 28 state units, questioning the legitimacy of the attendees and asserting that any challenge to his position must adhere to the federation's constitutional procedures.
He stated, "The individuals present at that meeting included journalists and representatives from organizations that have lost elections. If they wish to challenge me, they must follow the proper process outlined in our constitution."
Singh elaborated on the procedure, explaining that two-thirds of the members must request a meeting, after which the president would convene it. For him to be removed, three-fourths of the members would need to vote against him.
He added, "The secretary general does not have the authority to call a meeting unilaterally. If he wants to proceed, he must follow the established protocol."
Singh also detailed the reasons for Kumar's suspension, citing alleged irregularities in sponsorship and broadcasting deals, as well as the cancellation of a national championship in Himachal Pradesh.
He claimed that Kumar had presented a letter indicating a broadcaster's offer of Rs 2 crore for the World Boxing Cup Finals in Noida, but when the federation sought to collect the funds, the broadcaster denied issuing such a letter.
Additionally, Singh alleged that Kumar had authorized a work order worth Rs 1.5 crore without the necessary approvals from the president or finance committee.
Singh stated, "Given the serious allegations against him, I had to suspend him. The federation's constitution allows the president to suspend an office-bearer while an inquiry is conducted, pending ratification by the executive committee or general body within three months."
He concluded, "If he is innocent, he will be exonerated."
Despite the ongoing conflict, Singh reiterated that the federation's primary focus remains on the performance of Indian boxers, highlighting the nation's impressive results in recent international competitions.
India secured third place at the World Championships last year, finished second at the Asian Championships, and topped the medal tally at both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. The Indian team achieved a record seven gold medals at the Commonwealth Games, outperforming traditional rivals Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the Asian Games.
Singh noted, "When I assumed leadership of this federation, we were ranked 44th. Today, we are number one, and the results speak volumes."
He expressed optimism about India's chances for Olympic medals and stressed that the internal dispute should not disrupt the training of the athletes.
Singh welcomed the recent visit of former World Boxing president Boris van der Vorst, who met with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Singh. He described the meeting as productive, with van der Vorst expressing a desire to support Indian boxing as an ambassador for the sport.
Singh remarked, "Boris acknowledged our status as a boxing powerhouse and emphasized the importance of nurturing the sport. The minister also expressed strong support for the BFI in advancing boxing in India."