(MAY 17) There is much relief in India today at the news that ‘the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Executive Committee (EC) has approved the application of Boxing India (The Bout outside the Ring) as provisional new AIBA member for India until ratification by the AIBA Congress, following recommendations by the AIBA Evaluation Committee’.

This latest AIBA EC Decision was officially announced by AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu in a letter to the President of the India Olympic Association, Mr Narayna Ramachandran.

“The new vision and the initiatives proposed by this organization to revive the sport of boxing in the country in a professional and ethical manner have convinced AIBA that there would be no better organization than Boxing India to represent our sport in India,” – declared Dr Ching-Kuo Wu following this important announcement underlining the support of the Indian Olympic Association during the selection process.

It was on March 3, 2014 that the AIBA Executive Committee decided to end AIBA’s official relationship with the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation and to provisionally exclude the national federation from AIBA membership due to serious violations of the AIBA Statutes and Bylaws. Following this decision, it was decided to establish a new AIBA National Federation in India with the right group of people who would support the principles of AIBA in terms of ethics and fairness. For that, AIBA launched an Evaluation Committee to assess all the applications received by potential groups and/or individuals interested in establishing a new AIBA National Member Federation in India (deadline to submit application was April 28, 2014).

After having evaluated all received applications, the members of the AIBA Evaluation Committee submitted their recommendations to the AIBA EC. Now, the newly selected Boxing India should submit its plan to hold as soon as possible a General Assembly to conduct the elections for its executives which should also be approved by AIBA. The official new AIBA Member Federation in India will be launched immediately after these elections and will start to govern the sport of boxing in India with the full recognition of AIBA.

‘The Indian Express’ reported Saturday 17th May that ‘The new group is led by Sandeep Jajodia, CMD, Monnet Ispat Limited —one of the past sponsors of IBF — and Udit Sheth (WSB rights holder for India) and has the support of Jay Kohli, the president of Maharashtra Boxing Association. The group had sent their application to AIBA before April 28 last month and also gave a presentation to the world body’.

“We are looking forward to forming a new federation by holding a free and fair elections and adopting the new constitution,” Jajodia informed ‘The Indian Express’.

In the meantime the provisional approval will come as a great relief to boxing fans in India and a boost to the hopes of success at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in late July where Mary Kom is expected to head the women’s team in the 51kg weight classification with Olympic Gold Medallist, England’s Nicola Adams, a firm favourite to take the first ever Commonwealth Gold for Women boxers.

WBAN has also learned that the Danish Boxing Association has been provisionally suspended also by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

In a statement the AIBA confirmed :"In accordance with Art. 17 of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Statutes, the AIBA Executive Committee decided on May 13, 2014 to provisionally suspend the Danish Boxing Association due to a serious breach of Art. 6 of the AIBA Statutes and Rule 22 of the AOB Competition Rules at the National Championships held on April 10-11, 2014.

In regard to boxers and coaches participation in AIBA Competitions, this will be ensured as long as they also respect AIBA Rules".