New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President Ajay Singh on Wednesday condemned state associations for blocking player entries into the Senior National Championships for political reasons, calling it a grave disservice to the sport.
He assured that the BFI would cover all expenses for players affected by state-level politics, ensuring their participation in the tournament without hindrance.
"If any state federation is stopping their boxers or cancelling their tickets or arrangements, the Boxing Federation of India and I personally will pay for each one of those boxers to come and participate in the Nationals.
"We will provide them the tickets, the hotels, and whatever else is required. Helpline numbers (7003191553, 9050080068) will be available to them. Boxers can call this number, and we will make the arrangements for them," Ajay Singh said at a press conference.
With the BFI elections approaching, the Elite Women’s Senior National Boxing Championships, scheduled for March 21-27 in Greater Noida, has become embroiled in federation politics.
The event takes place against the backdrop of the suspension of BFI General Secretary Hemanta Kumar Kalita and Treasurer Digvijay Singh, following an inquiry into corruption and abuse of power. A one-man investigation led by Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain found both officials guilty of misusing their positions for personal gain, leading Singh to take disciplinary action.
"I must highlight this, especially for my friends from Assam who are present here—their team is being blocked from attending the national championships.
"In my view, Kalita and the Federation in Assam are responsible for this obstruction. We cannot ignore the interests of the players themselves. Politics is one thing, everyone has the right to contest elections and have political differences, but preventing athletes from competing in a national championship is a great disservice to the sport. This is something we must all stand against," Ajay Singh stated.
Dismissing allegations that the suspensions were politically motivated, he emphasised that the decision was made in accordance with the BFI Constitution.
"On the basis of that report, I have suspended the Secretary General and the Treasurer from their current responsibilities, and it is with the deepest regret that we need to take those actions to restore or maintain the credibility of the Federation that I happen to be president of at this point in time," he added.
Ajay Singh also highlighted the achievements during his tenure, noting that under his leadership, India has hosted three world championships and two IBA Congress, elevating the country’s boxing ranking from 44th to 4th in the world. He further mentioned the substantial rise in funding for Indian boxing, stating that he and his company have contributed over ₹20 crores to the sport.
Additionally, he asserted that all 54 international and domestic tournaments held during his tenure adhered to the highest standards of professionalism, reinforcing India’s reputation as a premier destination for global boxing events.
Referring to India’s unprecedented success in the Women’s World Championship held in New Delhi, where the country secured four gold medals, Ajay Singh remarked, "We have won a record number of medals in all forms of championships. In the last Women’s World Championship, India won four gold medals, which is something we have never done before."
He reiterated that his dedication to the sport is driven solely by a commitment to developing Indian boxing, not personal gain. UNI BDN SSP