New Delhi: On Tuesday, the ad hoc committee for boxing established by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) assumed its responsibilities, implementing measures to ensure that Indian teams participate in international competitions. Additionally, the committee set a two-month timeframe for conducting elections for the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

IOA president PT Usha appointed a five-member panel led by Madhu Kant Pathak on Monday to oversee boxing operations and facilitate the elections, citing "administrative instability" due to the failure to call elections after the BFI's term expired on February 2. In response, BFI president Ajay Singh has denied the IOA's allegations and indicated that the boxing body intends to contest the decision in court. "We are pursuing legal action. The establishment of an ad hoc body constitutes a clear breach of the IOA constitution," stated a BFI official.

Sahdev Yadav, the IOA treasurer and executive committee member, expressed his objections to Usha's directive in a letter on Monday, asserting that the executive committee had not been consulted and that the president does not possess the authority to make such unilateral decisions.

The five-member panel has assured that the boxers will not be adversely affected by the ongoing administrative challenges. The panel includes BFI vice-president Rajesh Bhandari, boxing officials DP Bhatt and Virendra Singh Thakur, as well as boxer Shiva Thapa. The committee is considering the possibility of rescheduling the postponed women's nationals, with a decision to be made after consultations with state units.

The first significant competition for the Indian team is the World Boxing Cup, scheduled to take place in Brazil starting March 31. Pathak indicated that the panel will engage with national coaches to discuss preparations for the event and determine whether a selection trial is necessary to finalize the team.

Today, we addressed a range of topics. The panel's decisions will prioritize the needs of athletes. We plan to engage with officials from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and national coaches to gather information regarding upcoming international competitions and the potential organization of selection trials. We have several elite boxers, and we will establish a robust selection panel until the elections take place, stated Pathak, who also serves as the general secretary of the Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA), in an interview with HT.

Since the Paris Olympics, Indian elite boxers have not participated in any competitions. With India's transition to World Boxing, which is supported by the International Olympic Committee, participation in events organized by the International Boxing Association (IBA) is no longer possible.

"A shortage of tournaments has arisen since our shift to World Boxing. We are unable to compete in IBA events such as the Strandja Memorial. The women's national championships, which have been postponed twice, are crucial as the boxers have been training in preparation for them," remarked a coach who requested anonymity.

Additionally, a multi-nation training camp is set to take place in Ireland starting March 20, which the developmental squad from India is expected to attend.

The panel has resolved that all state units will be required to submit their affiliation information to initiate the election process. "Our aim is to conduct elections that are transparent and fair. We have decided that elections will occur within two months, by the end of April. The panel will convene with state representatives as soon as possible. There are ongoing disputes within state associations that need to be addressed. We will seek a returning officer, preferably a retired high court judge, to oversee the process," Pathak added.

Read Also: Kerala’s Ranji Dream Meets Vidarbha’s Final Hurdle

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!