SAI, World Boxing appoint independent observers for BFI elections

NEW DELHI: Acting on the Himachal Pradesh High Court's order, the government has appointed Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) deputy director general in the Khelo India division, Mayank Srivastava, as an ‘independent observer’ to scrutinise the conduct of the much-delayed Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections. World Boxing has also designated Japan boxing federation’s president Tatsuya Nakama as the global governing body’s observer for the forthcoming electoral proceedings, TOI has learnt.

Last week, in a single-page order by Himachal HC’s Justice Ajay Mohan Goel, the judge mandated the appointment of an independent observer by the sports ministry to conduct the elections expeditiously.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The directive from the court came after it stayed the March 21 order by BFI’s returning officer (Justice retd) RK Gauba, who called for the postponement of the federation’s Annual General Meeting on March 28 in Gurugram, during which the elections of the new office-bearers were to be held.

Recently, the ministry requested the BFI for a comprehensive report regarding the delay in conducting the elections and various court cases filed by the sports body’s member state associations seeking revision of the already-published electoral college list, which had omitted names of several aspirants.

On the directions of BFI president Ajay Singh, the RO had postponed the elections on the grounds that it was “impossible to complete the process within originally planned timelines” after the Himachal HC ordered the inclusion of former sports minister Anurag Thakur’s name in the electoral college.


Get the latest WPL 2026 updates including WPL teams, full WPL 2026 schedule, and live scores for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, UP Warriorz, Gujarat Giants, and Delhi Capitals. Also check the latest WPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.