Dikhyaa Mohanty 
In order to maintain boxing’s centrality to the Olympic Movement, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has consented to join World Boxing, an international federation. The BFI General Assembly has accepted the membership application, and the Executive Board of World Boxing will now ratify it. Recently, the President and Secretary General of World Boxing met with Ajay Singh, the President of the BFI, to talk about how India might help the International Federation, which is one of the biggest National Federations in Asia, expand its membership base.
“As part of its commitment to the future development of World Boxing, the BFI aims to play a leading role in establishing an Asian Confederation and drive the recruitment of other National Federations in the region. It also intends to actively participate in the work of World Boxing Committees and all Commissions as well as bidding to host World Boxing competitions and supporting World Boxing’s efforts to secure commercial partnerships and generate new income streams” the BFI said in a release.
World Boxing president, Boris van der Vorst, said “India is a very important country in international boxing and we look forward to welcoming the BFI into the growing World Boxing family. This is a very exciting development which will significantly increase our presence in Asia and I look forward to working closely with the BFI in delivering our common goals. In both its public comments and during our recent meeting, the IOC has delivered a clear message to all National Federations that if they want boxers from their country to have the opportunity to compete at future Olympic Games then they must now join World Boxing. This is the only path that will see our sport remain in the Olympic Games after Paris 2024 and National Federations must act now and follow the example of the BFI if they want boxing to have any chance of still being part of the programme at Los Angeles 2028″.
According to BFI President Ajay Singh, the organization wants to grow boxing throughout the continent and its objectives and principles coincide with those of World Boxing.
“It is absolutely vital to the sustainability of boxing that it retains its Olympics status, so we are delighted to join World Boxing and look forward to working closely with the Executive Board and our fellow members to shape the future development of the sport and deliver a brighter future for boxers across the world. The BFI shares the same values and goals as World Boxing and are keen to play a leading role in its development. We also wish to be at the forefront of the formation and hosting of a new Asian confederation to ensure boxing continues to expand and grow its membership on the continent,” the BFI president added.
With its inauguration in April 2023, World Boxing seeks to maintain boxing’s centrality to the Olympic movement. Its first official meeting with the IOC took place on May 7, 2024, marking the beginning of a formal partnership between the two organizations with the goal of creating a route for boxing to continue competing in the Olympic Games.
