THE INDIAN AMATEUR Boxing Federation (IABF) has secured full membership in the International Boxing Association (IBA), which, while laying claim to being the global governing body for the sport, has been de-recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
The decision of the IBA board, made at its meeting on 6 February, was officially communicated to IABF through a letter from Lausanne, Switzerland, on Monday (February 9).
In the letter addressed to IABF president Rakesh Mishra, IBA president Umar Kremlev congratulated the federation. He highlighted the IABF’s dedication to the sport, transparent governance, and adherence to international standards as crucial reasons for the membership grant.
Kremlev’s letter, accessed by Sport18, read: “It is with great pleasure that I extend my sincere congratulations to Indian Amateur Boxing Federation for successfully gaining full membership with the International Boxing Association upon the decision taken by the IBA Board of Directors on 6 February 2026. Your commitment to the sport of boxing and the standards upheld by your Federation have earned you a well-deserved place in the IBA family.
“We are thrilled to have your National Federation on board and look forward to the positive contributions and collaboration that will undoubtedly enrich our shared commitment to the development of boxing worldwide.”
With full membership, the IABF is now eligible to participate in international tournaments and events organised by the IBA.
Responding to the announcement, Mishra described the recognition as a significant opportunity for Indian boxing, stating it would provide boxers with better access to international competition, training support, and global exposure.
IABF secretary general Rakesh Thakran expressed gratitude to the IBA board and member nations for their support, noting that the decision aligns with the Indian government’s vision of offering athletes more opportunities at the Olympic level.
Thakran mentioned that the federation would prioritise grassroots talent identification and structured training programmes to prepare boxers for future Olympic Games, while also addressing recent challenges faced by the sport.
He credited state-level boxing associations across India for their collective efforts and encouraged athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators to contribute to what he termed a new era for Indian boxing.
Thakran also stressed the importance of working under the guidance of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to enhance the country’s international representation in boxing.
This particular assertion is interesting. More so considering that there is the already the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) that holds the status of the official national governing body for amateur boxing in India. BFI, it bears noting, is affiliated to World Boxing, which has secured the support of the IOC.
