Boxing's Future Hangs In Balance After Asian body Votes In Favour Of IBA

Boxing's already uncertain Olympic future was thrown into further jeopardy after the sport's Asian governing body voted against leaving the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA) to join the rival association. The polling was held via a secret ballot on Saturday with 21 countries voted to continue with IBA, while 14 cast their ballot in favour of joining World Boxing (WB), a breakaway body which is aiming for recognition of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). There was one invalid vote.

Besides India, which participated as an observer, the other countries whose names figured on the roll call included, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Chinese Taipei, Timor Leste, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, and Lebanon.

Other members present were Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

The IOC has time and again reiterated its threat to leave boxing out of the 2028 Olympics if national federations continue to align themselves with the suspended IBA.

World Boxing has 42 members currently while suspended IBA has more than 100 affiliated units.

With the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) refusing to join the IOC 'promoted' WB, the Olympic future of the sport hangs in a balance.

However, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh, who was present at ASBC's extraordinary congress, is confident WB will get to the 50-member mark it requires to receive the provisional recognition by the end of the year.

"India is taking all possible steps to ensure that boxing remains a part of the Olympic