AIBA gives go ahead for elections to sort Indian boxing mess

New Delhi: The long-dragging administrative mess in Indian boxing could finally head towards a solution with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) giving its go ahead for fresh elections to put together a new National Federation.

Indian boxing has been without a parent body since May when Boxing India was provisionally suspended following a revolt by the state units, which passed a No Confidence Motion against the then BI President Sandeep Jajodia and Secretary General Jay Kowli. The sport is currently being administered by an ad-hoc committee, which was formed by the AIBA.

"Based on an ad-hoc committee report, AIBA President Dr. Ching-Kuo Wu, in due consultation and agreement with AIBA Executive Committee Bureau, has now directed the ad-hoc Committee to organise Elections for a new National Federation with cooperation of all the national stakeholders. The first step to that would be holding a General Assembly as soon as possible in which the Constitution would be passed and sent for AIBA's approval," ad-hoc panel Chairman Kishen Narsi said.

"The next step would be to invite nominations from those interested in being part of the new federation," he said. However, BI has been barred from the entire process as the world body wants an altogether new set-up to take charge. "The BI has played it's role. They tried to run things their way but it did not work out to everybody's satisfaction. Hopefully it won't be the case this time because a lot would depend on the extent of cooperation that member states would show towards each other," Narsi said. 

Narsi said the General Assembly meeting would be called soon but side-stepped queries on whether the dispute would be resolved before next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, scheduled in July. "It all boils down to intent. If there is a will to resolve the matter and ensure that boxers don't suffer, I am sure a solution can be found in a day. So let's see how things go and what sort of attitude people adopt," he explained. 

AIBA has also directed the ad-hoc committee to send all the details regarding election process, list of delegates, candidates and the agenda for a review before the polls are actually conducted.
The committee has agreed to the newly-formed Coordination Board's suggestion to start with the domestic national meets and has also planned a tentative calendar activities for the 2015-16 season. BI took charge of the sport last year in September after the erstwhile Indian Amateur Boxing Federation was terminated owing to manipulation in elections. 

However, BI could not run the show for long and faced dissent soon after with state units complaining of lack of coordination and communication with the body's top brass.
As a result of the continuing tug of war, Indian boxers have been forced to compete in international events under the AIBA flag.