Vijender Singh Speaks Out! Why BFI Needs Fresh Elections ASAP

Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh has urged greater international exposure for Indian boxers in the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while calling for fresh and fair elections in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to strengthen governance.

Since the Paris Games, Indian boxers have missed international competitions, and the women’s national championships have faced multiple delays. Meanwhile, the BFI elections, due on February 3, remain pending, prompting the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to step in with an ad-hoc committee.

“The way our country is progressing in sports, I strongly feel that Indian boxers must get more foreign exposure in competitions from now onwards to secure medals at the LA Olympics 2028,” Vijender wrote on X.

“For that, we need to conduct fresh and fair elections ASAP to build a strong federation. I will be more than happy to contribute my experience if given any responsibility by our government. @PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya,” he added.

The IOA’s five-member ad-hoc panel, led by former AFI treasurer Madhukant Pathak, includes long-time boxing administrators and former Asian champion Shiva Thapa as the sole players’ representative.

Indian boxing had a disappointing outing at the Paris Olympics, failing to win a medal. The sport also faces uncertainty on the global stage, with the IOC suspending the Umar Kremlev-led International Boxing Association (IBA) and the breakaway World Boxing seeking recognition.