Ajay Singh Continues Reign At BFI Helm

Singh will be joined by new secretary general Pramod Kumar of Uttar Pradesh, who succeeds Assam’s Hemanta Kalita. 

IMAGE: Ajay Singh secured 40 votes while his rival Jaslal Pradhan got 26 votes. Photograph: Boxing Federation of India

Incumbent Ajay Singh was on Thursday re-elected president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) for a third consecutive term after his comprehensive victory over Olympian Jaslal Pradhan in the long-overdue polls.

The elections were postponed by more than six months amid legal wrangling.

Singh, who is also the managing director of SpiceJet Airlines, won the contest 40-26 against 1982 Asian Games bronze medallist boxer Pradhan, who had the backing of the rival faction after former sports minister Anurag Thakur’s inclusion in the electoral college was rejected.

“I’m just happy that we get to continue the good work that the BFI has been doing for the past eight years,” Singh said after his victory.

“As you know, India’s rank in the world has gone up from number 44 eight years ago to rank four in the world. That gives us immense satisfaction that Indian boxers are now getting the opportunity to box in international championships and that they win so many medals and India gets to shine on the world stage.

“We want to continue that work and ensure that our boxers get many more opportunities and get to bring Olympic medals for the country,” he added.

Singh will be joined by new secretary general Pramod Kumar of Uttar Pradesh, who succeeds Assam’s Hemanta Kalita.

Kumar edged out former BFI treasurer Digvijay Singh of Madhya Pradesh 36-30.

The polls were conducted in the presence of Returning Officer Justice (retd) Rajesh Tandon and BFI interim committee head Fairuz Mohammed of Singapore, who was sent by World Boxing as its observer.

World Boxing President Boris van der Vorst and Secretary General Mike McAtee, who were originally set to be observers, did not attend the polls.

The Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) also didn’t send any observers.

“Boris was unable to come yesterday which was the plan. He will come in the next few days anyway because India is going to host the World Boxing Cup as well as the World Boxing Congress in November. So he will be coming in preparation for that.”

The treasurer’s position saw a three-way fight and Pon Baskaran secured the post with 28 votes, defeating Anil Kumar Bohidar and R Gopu.

The results, however, remain subject to the final outcome of an ongoing case in the Delhi High Court, where several state units have challenged the constitutional amendments introduced by the interim committee that had been overseeing BFI’s daily affairs.

The High Court has set September 23 as the next date of hearing.

“Of course the matter is going on in the court and the court had said in its last hearing that they wanted the elections to go on.

“They also made the result of the elections subject to the final outcome of the case which is what happens every time a legal matter is filed in an election. So all of us will abide by the law of the land,” Singh said.

Singh, who was first elected to office in 2016, said his priority would be to focus on grass root development.

“My foremost commitment is to ensure that every ounce of energy now goes into strengthening grassroots programs, empowering our junior and youth athletes, and building on India’s growing stature in world boxing.”

The elections were initially scheduled for March 28 but were repeatedly stalled due to a series of petitions, appeals and counter-appeals.