AIBA approves Boxing India as new governing body for the sport

Formation of new boxing body gives Indian boxers hope

The International Boxing Association has provisionally approved Boxing India as the new governing body for the sport in the country. Thursday’s announcement gives a fresh lease of life to Indian boxing after the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation was suspended in 2012 for failing to meet the required criteria by holding new elections.

The AIBA released a statement saying “The International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee (EC) has approved the application of Boxing India (The Bout outside the Ring) as provisional new AIBA member for India until ratification by the AIBA Congress, following recommendations by the AIBA Evaluation Committee. This latest AIBA EC Decision was officially announced by AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu in his letter to the President of the Indian Olympic Association, Narayan Ramachandran.”

However, the AIBA did not mention which group of individuals represented Boxing India and none of the groups that applied to the AIBA are clear on which group was approved.

AIBA President Ching Kuo Wu said he was impressed by the efforts made to revive boxing in India saying ” The new vision and the initiatives proposed by this organization to revive the sport of boxing in the country in a professional and ethical manner have convinced AIBA that there would be no better organization than Boxing India to represent our sport in India.”

The statement concluded “Now, the newly selected Boxing India should submit its plan to hold as soon as possible a General Assembly to conduct the elections for its executives which should also be approved by AIBA. The official new AIBA Member Federation in India will be launched immediately after these elections and will start to govern the sport of boxing in India with the full recognition of AIBA.”