Boxing Federation election postponed amid COVID-19 fears

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) announced on Tuesday that it is going to postpone its elections, which was supposed to be held in Gurugram on December 18, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“The decision to postpone the elections was taken after a majority of member state associations wrote to the Returning Officer, Justice (retd.) Rajesh Tandon, requesting postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A large number of voting members of BFI are above 60 years and are in the high-risk category,” said a BFI statement

“Subsequently, the Returning Officer has written to the BFI, recommending that elections be deferred.”

According to BFI, 23 out of the 32 state units requested for the postponement of the elections and the approval has also been given by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

“After the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had also made it clear that it will adopt a flexible approach to the election cycles of National Olympic Committees (NOC) so that member country’s athlete preparations are not hampered,” said the statement.

The tenure of the office-bearers was supposed to come to an end on September 25, at the completion of their four-year period. However, it was extended by three months due to the pandemic and supposed to be held this month. But it will get delayed further now.

Ajay Singh, who is the current BFI President, was seeking re-election and he would be facing Ashish Shelar — former Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President and a prominent BJP Leader — in the fight for the post.

Shelar had commented that he was surprised with the postponement of the BFI elections as the state and municipal polls had already been held in the country.

“This move shows that the current dispensation of the BFI is not ready to follow the principles of democratic process…The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports should look into this delaying tactic,” said Shelar.