Boxing in India is set for a period of recovery after Ajay Singh was elected the new President of the governing body ©Spicejet

Businessman Ajay Singh has been elected as the President of the newly-formed India Boxing Federation (IBF), which could mark the end to the country's prolonged exile from the sport following a power-struggle and a number of suspensions.

Singh, chief executive of budget airline SpiceJet, comfortably beat rival candidate Rohit Jain by 49 votes to 15 to secure the Presidency.

International Boxing Association (AIBA) President C K Wu is optimistic it will mark the start of a new dawn for boxing in India.

Jay Kowli emerged victorious from a three-way battle for the position of general secretary within the IBF, claiming 48 votes compared with Lenny D’Gama’s 12 and Rakesh Thakran, who got four.

Amarjit Singh was chosen as vice-president for the west zone and Rajesh Bhandari won the north zone election over CK Jerath by 39 votes to 25.

Administration within the sport in India has been plagued with issues in previous years after Boxing India was suspended by AIBA in 2014.

It meant boxers had to compete under the umbrella of the International Federation rather than their country when participating at AIBA-sanctioned events.

It came after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) rejected Boxing India's application for Federation recognition, instead backing the controversial Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF).

The IABF had previously been suspended by the Indian Government and AIBA in December 2012 for not holding elections under the Olympic Charter, before lifting the sanction in February 2013.

AIBA President CK Wu believes the elections could mark the new dawn for boxing in India ©Getty Images
AIBA President CK Wu believes the elections could mark the new dawn for boxing in India ©Getty Images

The AIBA had urged the IOA to recognise Boxing India as the legitimate body ruling the sport in the country and eventually suspended the country in 2014.

Since the suspension the sport has been orchestrated by an AIBA-appointed Ad-Hoc Committee, with Indian boxers limited to having few opportunities to compete internationally due to the ban.

The IOA opted not to send an observer to the elections, which took place in Mubai.

AIBA Oceania Zone Vice-President Edgar Tanner and Sports Authority of India Director Sushmita Jyotsi oversaw the meeting.

"These elections represent an important step forward for boxing in India and I would like to thank Kishen Narsi for leading the intermediate ad-hoc committee which has allowed us to get to where we are today,"said Wu.

"It was vital for the good of the sport that a transparent process was undertaken to elect a new president of the Indian Boxing Federation and I am confident that Mr Singh is the right man to lead the IBF forward.

"It is now time to look to the future and work closely with the newly elected National Federation and implement positive initiatives to entice further around the sport of boxing in India."