Conspicuous by its absence in the elections to constitute the Boxing Federation of India despite being requested to send an observer, the IOA said it will consider giving affiliation to the newly-formed body following the “good” conduct of polls.
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had been requested to depute an observer by both the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the polls.
However, no IOA representative showed up at the polls yesterday, raising doubts that it might again play hardball, having previously denied recognition to the now-dissolved Boxing India (BI).
“You see the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (which governed the sport till its termination in 2012) is still a member of the IOA. We are being told that state units have submitted affidavits to BFI stating that they have resigned from membership of IABF. We will scrutinise these affidavits and take a call in the next one month or so,” IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said.
The IABF has been derecognised by both the AIBA as well as the Sports Ministry but it continues to seek a revival through a litigation pending in the Delhi High Court.
Mehta said although the IOA did not have a formal representative at yesterday’s BFI elections in Mumbai but it has got positive feedback about the polls.
