BFI President Ajay Singh to face a no-confidence motion

Revoked BFI secretary general Pramod Kumar said that the no-confidence motion was being brought about due to “serious member concerns regarding the federation’s functioning.”

Updated : Oct 24, 2026 18:12 IST , New Delhi - 4 MINS READ

FILE PHOTO: BFI President is expected to face a no-confidence meeting at a Special General House Meeting on October 28. | Photo Credit: PTI

World Boxing is watching the outcome of a Special General House Meeting of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on October 28 before deciding on the ongoing leadership dispute, revoked secretary general Pramod Kumar told Sportstar on Saturday. Kumar’s faction is seeking to oust president Ajay Singh through a no-confidence motion.

Kumar said the international governing body had told him it could not send an observer to the meeting but was monitoring the proceedings and would take a decision afterwards. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Ministry have also been invited to send observers, he said.

“We have been communicating with World Boxing for the last few months. They informed us that they could not send an observer to be present at the meeting on the 28th, but that they were keeping an eye on the outcome of the meeting, following which they would take a decision,” Kumar told Sportstar.

Kumar said that the no-confidence motion was being brought about due to “serious member concerns regarding the federation’s functioning.”

In a release, Kumar’s faction claimed the “BFI has not demonstrated or implemented long term and short term plans, not conducted tournaments regularly and had not shown transparency in team selection.”

Kumar’s faction needs the support of 22 of the BFI’s 33 member associations to pass the no-confidence motion. The October 28 meeting has become the focal point of an escalating battle for control of the national federation, with both camps disputing the legitimacy of each other’s decisions.

The latest developments follow Singh’s decision on October 13 to suspend Kumar over alleged financial irregularities, non-cooperation with investigations and misuse of authority. The suspension order cited, among other things, a work order for broadcasting arrangements allegedly issued without the required approval and Kumar’s failure to cooperate with an inquiry into the cancellation of a national championship. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the order described the suspension as an interim measure rather than a final determination of wrongdoing.

The suspension also directly addressed the proposed no-confidence motion, with Singh alleging that Kumar had attempted to convene an unauthorised meeting to challenge the president’s position. Kumar, meanwhile, had accused Singh and BFI executive director Col. Arun Malik of criminal intimidation in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Malik dismissed the allegation as baseless.

Kumar’s faction has since challenged the suspension.

Kumar said his faction welcomed observers from the IOA and the Sports Ministry, but neither had communicated such a position in writing. “We have corresponded with the ministry and the IOA. We welcome their observers to our meeting, where we will bring forward the no confidence motion,” he said.

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He claimed that neither the Sports Ministry nor the IOA was recognising the current BFI leadership. Kumar maintained that should the no-confidence motion pass, the general house would settle the question of who should serve as acting president until fresh elections were held. “Our general house will confirm who is the acting president on the 28th,” he said.

He also expressed confidence in the significance of the meeting, saying, “We have got the OK from World Boxing. If World Boxing and the IOA agree with the decision of the meeting, then who is Ajay Singh?”

Kumar said fresh elections would follow if the no-confidence motion succeeded.

“We used to do anonymous elections. But once the no-confidence motion is passed, we will conduct fresh elections,” he said.

Kumar also questioned the BFI’s role in funding and supporting boxers, claiming that athletes’ preparations were being financed and managed by other agencies. “TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) is funding athletes directly. The national camps are conducted by SAI (Sports Authority of India. So boarding, lodging, everything is within SAI. There’s no role of BFI. BFI is not giving a single paisa,” he said.