New Delhi, Feb 26 – Olympic medallist Vijender Singh has emphasized the urgent need for increased international exposure for Indian boxers to enhance their chances of securing medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Additionally, he has called for fresh and fair elections in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to ensure better governance.
Indian boxers have been missing from international competitions since the Paris Olympics, and the women's national championships have faced multiple delays. The BFI elections, originally scheduled for earlier this month, have also been postponed, leading to concerns about the sport's administration.
Vijender took to social media platform X on Wednesday, stressing the importance of global exposure for Indian pugilists. “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,” he wrote.
Furthermore, he underscored the need for a strong federation, urging immediate elections. “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,” he added, tagging the Prime Minister’s Office and Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The tenure of the current BFI office-bearers ended on February 3, but the delay in conducting elections prompted the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to intervene. On Monday, the IOA appointed a five-member ad-hoc committee to oversee boxing affairs until elections are held.
The panel, headed by former Athletics Federation of India (AFI) treasurer Madhukant Pathak, includes experienced boxing officials such as Rajesh Bhandari (vice-chairman), DP Bhatt, and Virendra Singh Thakur. Former Asian champion Shiva Thapa has been included as the players' representative.
Indian boxing struggled at the Paris Olympics, returning without a medal. The sport also faces uncertainty on the global stage, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has suspended the International Boxing Association (IBA) led by Umar Kremlev. Meanwhile, the breakaway World Boxing organization is actively seeking IOC recognition.
With these challenges at hand, Vijender’s call for structural reforms and greater exposure comes at a crucial time for Indian boxing.
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