AIBA President Ching Kuo-Wu welcomes formation of Indian boxing federation

Lausanne: International Boxing Association (AIBA) President Dr Ching Kuo-Wu on Tuesday welcomed the formation of a national federation in India to end four years of administrative turmoil, saying the sport can now be put back on track in the country through “positive initiatives”.

In elections held on Sunday, businessman Ajay Singh was elected President of the Boxing Federation of India. Jay Kowli was voted in as the Secretary General of the new body in polls held under the supervision of AIBA observer Edgar Tanner.

“These elections represent an important step forward for boxing in India and I would like to thank Kishen Narsi for leading the intermediate ad-hoc committee which has allowed us to get to where we are today,” Dr Wu said in a statement referring to the ad-hoc panel that administered the sport in the absence of a full-fledged body until Sunday.

“It was vital for the good of the sport that a transparent process was undertaken to elect a new president of the Indian Boxing Federation and I am confident that Mr Singh is the right man to lead,” he added.

“It is now time to look to the future and work closely with the newly elected National Federation and implement positive initiatives to entice further around the sport of boxing in India.”

Sunday’s election ended a prolonged period of administrative logjam in Indian boxing due to which boxers were denied crucial foreign exposure and were forced to compete under the AIBA flag.