A faction of the Boxing Federation of India seeking the removal of president Ajay Singh met Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse in New Delhi on Wednesday. The dissident group claims the backing of 27 state units and is demanding urgent ministry intervention over alleged governance lapses and administrative failures within the national sports body.
Eight executive committee members, including secretary general Pramod Kumar and senior vice-presidents Rajesh Bhandari and Leonardo D’Gama, gathered in the national capital to submit a formal memorandum. The delegation also reached out to the Indian Olympic Association and World Boxing president Gennadiy Golovkin to highlight deep-rooted issues in the administration.
Governance Crisis and Court Intervention
The meeting followed a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court halting a planned Special General Meeting called to pass a no-confidence motion against Singh. Dissident leaders expressed frustration over prolonged legal battles and financial constraints while accusing the leadership of sidelining elected office-bearers and altering the BFI constitution without proper scrutiny.
- Support Claim: Representatives from 27 state units backed the move against president Ajay Singh.
- High Court Order: A special general meeting to move a no-confidence motion was placed in abeyance until November 13.
- Key Grievances: Officials highlighted unpaid travel and daily allowances for technical personnel spanning several years.
- Calendar Issues: State units raised concerns over the lack of a structured domestic competition calendar and grassroots planning.
Counter-Claims and Official Stance
In response to the developments, the BFI released an official statement asserting that 21 of its 35 authorised state units participated in a two-day Mission Olympic Podium meeting in Bagdogra, West Bengal. Meanwhile, the dissenting faction maintained that technical officials and national championship medallists have suffered due to delayed financial disbursements, prompting threats of a public protest at Jantar Mantar if administrative transparency is not restored.
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