Vijender Singh Urges Greater Foreign Exposure for Indian Boxers Ahead of LA 2028
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Synopsis
Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh has called for increased foreign exposure for Indian boxers to enhance their chances of winning medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He also emphasized the need for new and fair elections in the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
Key Takeaways
- Vijender Singh calls for more foreign exposure for Indian boxers.
- Highlighting the importance of fair elections in the Boxing Federation of India.
- Recent championships and competitions faced delays.
- Ad hoc committee formed to manage BFI affairs.
- Striving for medals at the 2028 Olympics.
New Delhi, Feb 26 (NationPress) Olympic bronze medallist pugilist Vijender Singh has emphasized the necessity of enhanced foreign exposure for Indian boxers to bolster their chances of clinching a medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Moreover, he urged for fresh and fair elections within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
Since the Paris Olympics, boxing has remained relatively dormant. Last October and November, youth boxers (both male and female) participated in the U19 World Boxing Championships held in the USA.
The men's national championships were conducted in early January in Bareilly (UP), while the women's event, originally set for February 21-28 in Lucknow, has been postponed.
Some boxers, including Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain, took part in the National Games held in Uttarakhand.
“Given the advancement of sports in our country, I firmly believe that Indian boxers need increased foreign exposure in competitions moving forward to secure medals at the LA Olympics 2028,” Vijender shared on X on Wednesday.
“To achieve this, we need to organize new and fair elections as soon as possible to create a robust federation. I would be more than willing to share my experience if our government offers me any responsibility. @PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya,” he added.
On Monday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) established a five-member ad hoc committee, which includes senior boxer Shiva Thapa, to oversee the daily operations of the BFI, citing administrative turmoil within the federation and its failure to conduct timely elections.
The term of the current BFI officials ended on February 2, but elections were not held due to a legal issue surrounding previous elections, which ruled against the BFI.
The ad hoc committee will be led by Madukant Pathak, with Rajesh Bhandari serving as vice chairman. Other members include Virendra Singh Thakur, Shiva Thapa, and DP Bhatt.
The ad hoc committee is set to “tackle the concerns raised by the boxing community, promote athlete involvement in upcoming international competitions, and strive to conduct the BFI elections promptly”.
