India's full membership within the International Boxing Association (AIBA) was unanimously reinstated at the Extraordinary Congress in Geneva at the end of 2016 under the newly-formed Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

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.

The Indian Olympic Association had rejected Boxing India's application for Federation recognition, instead backing the 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.

Officials under former IABF President Abhishek Matoria met in Delhi on Sunday (August 27), according to the New Indian Express.

They said the decision to hold elections was taken after members rejected Matoria’s offer of dissolving the IABF.

Matoria was unanimously retained as President.

"It’s still a registered society," Rakesh Thakran, elected the secretary general, was reported as saying by the New Indian Express.

"We were forced to hold elections because no one wanted the body to be dissolved.

"Matoria asked the house.

"But they were in favour of holding elections that were due."

In September of last year, businessman Ajay Singh was elected as the BFI President.

It was hoped this would mark the end to the country's prolonged exile from the sport following a power-struggle and a number of suspensions.

Thakran, however, has questioned the validity of the BFI elections.  

"As far as we are concerned, he is not even a member of the Uttarakhand Boxing Association and is ineligible to contest elections," Thakran was reported as saying by the New Indian Express.

"We have approached the court."

Regarding gaining affiliation, Thakran added: "We have sent a delegation to Lausanne to meet the AIBA officials and present our case."

India had a total of eight boxers on the entry list for the ongoing AIBA World Championships here.

Among them was lightweight Shiva Thapa, a 2015 world bronze medallist at bantamweight.

He had to withdraw from the event before his first bout after suffering food poisoning and high fever.

Bantamweight Gaurav Bidhuri reached the semi-finals but was eliminated by the United States’ Duke Ragan this evening.

Last month, India were awarded the 2021 AIBA Men's World Championships and the 2018 AIBA Women's World Championships.

Both events are scheduled to take place in the country's capital New Delhi.

In March, the BFI welcomed a delegation of more than 100 AIBA Commission members to New Delhi for two days of meetings, during which their recommendations for the 2020 Olympic cycle were discussed and finalised.

India was chosen as the venue for the 2017 Commissions Meetings in a signal of support for the BFI administration under Singh.