The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has made a significant move by joining World Boxing, a breakaway organization from the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA). This decision aims to safeguard the future of boxing in the Olympics, as the IOC has threatened to exclude the sport from the 2028 Los Angeles Games if national federations continue to align with the IBA.
BFI President Ajay Singh emphasized the importance of retaining boxing's Olympic status, stating, "It is absolutely vital to the sustainability of boxing that it retains its Olympics status, so we are delighted to join World Boxing." He expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the WB Executive Board to shape the sport's future and provide a brighter outlook for boxers worldwide.
World Boxing, led by former IBA presidential candidate Boris van der Vorst, was established in April 2023 with the goal of ensuring boxing's place in the Olympic movement. The BFI's membership application was approved by its General Assembly and will be ratified by World Boxing's Executive Board.
Van der Vorst welcomed the BFI's decision, acknowledging India's significance in international boxing. He stated, "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."
On May 7, WB held its first formal meeting with the IOC, marking the beginning of a collaboration aimed at establishing a pathway for boxing to remain in the Olympic Games. The IOC had de-recognized the IBA in 2019 due to ongoing financial, sports integrity, and governance issues.
As a result, boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be overseen by the IOC, marking the second consecutive time that the IBA will have no involvement in the sport at the mega-event.
Tags: #Boxing, #BFI, #WorldBoxing, #IBA, #Olympics
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