Gurugram, August 22, 2025 – Ajay Singh has once again taken the helm of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), winning re-election as president for a third straight term. The vote happened yesterday in Gurugram, marking the end of a long wait filled with court fights and delays. Singh, who also runs SpiceJet airlines, beat out former boxer Jaslal Pradhan from Sikkim with a clear margin of 40 votes to 26. This win keeps him in charge of Indian boxing, a sport that’s seen ups and downs lately.
The elections weren’t smooth. They were supposed to happen back on March 28, but got pushed back over and over because of legal troubles. A bunch of state boxing groups challenged changes to the BFI’s rules, saying they broke national sports guidelines. The Delhi High Court let the vote go ahead on August 18, but said the results depend on the final ruling. The next court date is September 23, so nothing’s set in stone yet. If the court finds problems, the whole thing could get tossed out.
Along with Singh, other key spots got filled. Pramod Kumar from Uttar Pradesh stepped in as the new secretary general, winning 36-30 against Digvijay Singh from Madhya Pradesh. He’s replacing Hemanta Kalita from Assam, who couldn’t run again because of term limits. For treasurer, Pon Baskaran from Tamil Nadu came out on top in a three-way race, beating Anil Kumar Bohidar from Odisha and R Gopu from Pondicherry. The vote involved 34 state units, making up 66 total votes.
Observers were a mixed bag. A retired judge, Rajesh Tandon, oversaw things as the returning officer, and Fairuz Mohamed from World Boxing called it fair and open. But big names like World Boxing’s president Boris van der Vorst skipped the event, though Singh says he’ll visit India soon to plan a big tournament in November. The Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association didn’t send anyone either, choosing to wait for the court’s say. A rival group led by Rajesh Bhandari from Himachal Pradesh complained about that, saying it wasn’t right.
Singh, who first got the job in 2016, sounded upbeat after the win. He talked about pouring energy into building boxing from the ground up. “My main goal is to boost programs for young kids and teens, and help India shine more on the world stage,” he said. Under his watch, Indian boxers have grabbed medals at big events, but the sport’s hit snags like funding woes and rule fights. He promised to follow the law no matter what the court decides.
This re-election comes at a tricky time for Indian boxing. The federation’s been run by a temporary team since April, and the court case could shake things up. Some worry it might hurt ties with global groups or slow down training for upcoming Olympics. But for now, Singh’s team is set to push ahead, focusing on growing the sport in villages and cities alike.
Folks in the boxing world have mixed feelings. Supporters praise Singh for steady leadership, while critics point to the delays as a sign of deeper issues. As the court date nears, everyone’s eyes are on how this plays out for the future of punches and glory in India.
