The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is gearing up for its long-awaited elections, scheduled to be held on August 21, 2025, in the Delhi-NCR region. The elections, initially slated for March 28, faced numerous delays due to legal disputes among the office bearers.

The BFI's Interim Committee, currently managing the sport, announced the election date. According to a circular by Interim Committee chief Ajay Singh, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the BFI will take place on August 21 in Delhi-NCR. The AGM's agenda includes confirming the minutes of the previous meeting, electing various posts for the 2025-2029 term, and addressing any other items with the chair's permission. Member states were asked to submit the names of their two representatives by August 4, 2025.

Amidst this backdrop, former Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has re-entered the race for the BFI presidency. Thakur, nominated by the Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association (HPBA) as its representative, will contest against Ajay Singh. Thakur's name, along with Rajesh Bhandari, will be forwarded as Himachal Boxing's representatives attending the AGM.

The previous BFI office-bearers' tenure ended on February 2, 2025. Efforts to hold elections by March 28 were thwarted by BFI factions contesting a March 7 order issued by Ajay Singh in the Delhi and Himachal High Courts. World Boxing, which appointed the Interim Committee to manage Indian boxing's affairs, had set an August 31 deadline for the elections.

Thakur's earlier exclusion from the Electoral College prompted legal proceedings, with a hearing scheduled for August 18. A fresh suit has been filed, challenging the validity of changes made to the BFI Constitution by the Interim Committee without the approval of an Executive Council.

The sports ministry has empowered the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to investigate the delay in conducting elections and suggest a clear roadmap for holding fair and timely elections.

Anurag Thakur has previously served as the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. He was also the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Thakur was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2008 and is a four-time Member of Parliament from the Hamirpur constituency of Himachal Pradesh.

The BFI elections are happening again after being delayed because of legal problems. The election was originally planned for March 28 but was put on hold because of disagreements and appeals. World Boxing, which is in charge of boxing internationally, created an interim committee to handle things until the election could take place. They set a deadline of August 31 to get the elections done.

The nomination of Anurag Thakur has sparked controversy, with his camp challenging the constitutional changes made by the Interim Committee. Thakur's earlier exclusion from the electoral college led to legal challenges, and the situation remains complex as the election date approaches.

The BFI elections will be held on August 21 during the AGM in Delhi-NCR. The results of these elections will determine the leadership of Indian boxing for the term 2025-2029.