The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is under fire again as the Sports Ministry issued a show-cause notice on Monday, questioning the fairness and transparency of the selection process. The ongoing assessment camp in Patiala has been suspended, and the BFI must now revise its criteria for picking boxers for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Controversy erupted last month when the BFI added the 40 medal winners from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Cup to the assessment camp. Several boxers protested their exclusion from the COAS Cup, claiming it unfairly favored athletes with army affiliations. In response, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) stepped in and paused the camp.
According to reports, SAI refused to sanction a camp where boxers gained entry through a “closed” tournament, raising serious doubts about the legitimacy of the selection. The Ministry also highlighted that the BFI has failed to appoint a High Performance Director, despite receiving Rs 10 crore specifically for that role. The appointment of a High Performance Director is now mandatory for all National Sports Federations (NSFs).
This assessment camp is critical for Indian boxers, as it will determine the remaining spots for two major multi-sport events this year. With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games just months away, the indefinite postponement is hurting athletes’ preparation and training schedules.
Under the December 2025 selection criteria, several Asian Championships finalists have already secured five quotas for the Commonwealth Games and three for the 2026 Asian Games. The camp will now decide the boxers for the remaining weight categories.