BFI panel bars personal coaches for National campers

NEW DELHI

Stressing the importance of maintaining consistency across the national boxing programme, the Interim Committee overseeing the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has reinforced a policy of the federation by barring personal support staff, including coaches, of National campers.

The directive is aimed at ensuring uniform preparation standards ahead of major global events, such as the World Championships in Liverpool in September, the World Boxing Cup Finals in New Delhi in November, and the Asian Games in Japan next year.

Learning from India’s Paris 2024 Olympic campaign, the committee has underlined the need for a centralised and high-accountability training system, under which boxers have been training under coaches appointed by the federation for three months.

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“By consolidating our coaching framework, we are able to maintain clear performance benchmarks, ensure real-time progress tracking, and implement timely course corrections. This process brings greater discipline, data-driven feedback, and long-term athlete development,” said BFI executive director Col. (Retd.) Arun Malik.

This policy shall remain applicable for the entire Olympic cycle, leading up to and including LA28. 

Both male and female boxers have shown significant progress, with India securing six medals at the World Boxing Cup in Brazil and a record-breaking haul of 11 medals, including three golds in the women’s categories, at the Astana edition earlier this year.