SwissBoxing was welcomed back into the IBA family following its resignation under new leadership, which was then reversed at their last General Assembly. The US Boxing Federation, a new organization led by legendary Roy Jones Jr, was formed following the disaffiliation of USA Boxing. Oceania gained two new members as the Norfolk Island Boxing Association and Tuvalu Amateur Boxing Association were accepted.

However, the Czech Boxing Association, German Boxing Association, and Dutch Boxing Federation’s termination was approved by the Congress. Following these terminations, President Umar Kremlev said IBA will welcome other organizations from countries no longer associated with the governing body.

The Congress also discussed the IBA’s event calendar for 2024, which is set to include 16 Champions’ Nights, an increase from 10 this year. Zagreb is slated to host the first of these on January 13. IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE also spoke about securing contracts with boxers and officials to bring athletes into professionalism through IBA Champions’ Night.

Positive developments were outlined as 64 courses were delivered in 2023 to 1332 students. The majority of these were 1 Star Coaches Development, with 805 students in 35 sessions. There were also 1,2, and 3 Star seminars for referees and judges, cut technicians, and technical official courses. IBA Secretary-General highlighted the Fair Chance Team and Neutral Team support from IBA as well as the launch of the Sports Management Course with the ISDE in Madrid, with 30 positions to be filled in its inaugural year.

The Congress also elected a new Board member, Lourdes Avendano Rodrigues of Bolivia, who will sit as a representative for the American Boxing Confederation.

In addition to these developments, a revolutionary new scoring system was unveiled at the fourth edition of the Global Boxing Forum in Dubai. The New Generation Scoring System, developed by UNIXON Systems in cooperation with the Japan Boxing Federation and LiveMedia Corporation, aims to improve fairness in judging. The system was showcased by IBA Secretary General and CEO Chris Roberts OBE, who acknowledged the existing scoring system’s mix of objective and subjective marking. The new style, which will be piloted and compared with the current one, is more accurate. Aside from judges watching on a screen, a separate reviewer will score the video at a slower speed.

The Congress also approved amendments to the IBA Constitution, including an update to resigning members. Resignations will take effect from January 1 following notification. Provisional members can be approved at either the IBA Extraordinary or Ordinary Congress now. Previously, this could only be done at the Ordinary Congress. There will now be space for a Normalisation Committee in National Federations and Continental Confederations who are having an internal crisis instead of suspension, allowing time for improvements rather than leading to an immediate sanction.

The IBA Congress and Global Boxing Forum in Dubai 2023 saw significant developments in the organization’s membership, event calendar, coaching and athlete support, and scoring system. The Congress also elected a new Board member and approved amendments to the IBA Constitution.

Photo Credits: IBA
Video Credits: ICARUS Sports

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The support is part of GNSPF’s flagship program of supporting athletes for the Olympic Games, and Walther has been supporting GNSPF for many years, showing their faith in the foundation’s initiative, yet again. The rifles gifted to the Paris quota holders are expected to help them win not just their place in the final team but also clinch gold medals in their respective events at the Paris Games.

The press conference was addressed by London Games bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang, who is also the Co-Founder of Gun for Glory Shooting Academy and Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Gagan Narang was joined by Bernhard Knobel, CEO -of Carl Walther GmbH, Germany, Drager Bjorn Klaus-Director of Sales Carl Walther GmbH, Germany, Peter Performance rifle coach, former world champion and five times Olympian, and Pawan Singh-Joint Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), Judges Committee Member of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) and the Co-Founder of Gun for Glory Shooting Academy.

“It is a moment of pride and satisfaction to see a company like Walther living the same dream as us. I have used Walther rifles to win medals at every possible level. To see the legendary company coming to support us in our endeavor to help other Indian shooters win medals at the Olympics is a big motivation for all of us,” Narang said.

Walther’s rifles are technically superior and technologically advanced, and Narang hopes that the rifles gifted to the Paris quota holders will help them win not just their place in the final team but also clinch gold medals in their respective events at the Paris Games.

“Our association with India and Indian shooters goes back a long way. We, along with the GNSPF, want to see Indian shooters do well at every competition they participate in. It is our honor that top Indian shooters trust Walther rifles and are doing so well at the international level. India is a huge country with thousands of talented shooting athletes, and Walther is the leading gun manufacturer in the world, so together, we can create many new champions,” said Bernhard Knobel.

Former World Champion and Gun For Glory shooter Rudrankksh Patil said that getting support from Walther at the right time will help him do even better in the months to come. “Shooting is a sport of precision, and Walther has always ensured making their guns after getting feedback from the shooters across the world. I am glad to have got this support from them in the form of their latest rifle, which will help me do well ahead of the Paris Olympics,“.

Quota holder Mehuli Ghosh, who is preparing for her first Olympics, said, “The first rifle that I saw was a Walther. Since then, whatever scores I have shot or medals I have won, have come using Walther rifles. I am happy to have got the latest rifle from them.“

Swaroop Unhalkar, who is gearing up to win a quota place for the Paris Games, also thanked Gun For Glory Academy and Walther for their support. “It is heartening to see Gun For Glory, Pawan Singh, and Gagan Narang sir doing so much for para-sport. I would like to thank them and Walther for their support as it will help me in my journey ahead“.

GNSPF and Walther’s support for Paris quota winners with high-end rifles is expected to help them win not just their place in the final team but also clinch gold medals in their respective events at the Paris Games. The rifles gifted to the Paris quota holders are technically superior and technologically advanced, and the support from Walther is a big motivation for all Indian shooters to win medals at the Olympics.

The post Gagan Narang’s Foundation and Walther Support Paris Quota Winners with High-End Rifles appeared first on NRI News.

The evening began with the singing of devotional songs, followed by the traditional aarti. Founder and President Sunil Shah, Current President Vinita Gulabani, Founder Member and Past President Onkar Singh Sanga, and Past President Neil Khot addressed the gathered members, thanking them for their contributions to the success of the FIA and its activities during the year.

The event also saw the announcement of the new FIA team for 2024, which will be spearheaded by Incoming President Pratibha Jairath, strongly supported by 100+ members comprising Executive Board Members, Directors, and Advisory Board Members. The team includes Executive Vice Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Anu Malhotra, Vice Presidents Richa Chand, Sonia Luther, Mukesh Shah, Chandini Duvuri, Murugesh Kasilingam, and Jessie Singh, Treasurer Suresh Bodiwala, General Secretary Nilabh Dubey, Joint Treasurer Vaishal Talati, Joint Secretary Falguni Sukhadia, Cultural Secretary Pika Munshi, and Joint Cultural Secretary Priyanka Parekh.

A new Disciplinary Committee was proposed and accepted, with members including Keerthi Reevori, Mukesh Shah, Sunil Shah, Neil Khot, Vinita Gulabani, and Pratibha Jairath. Additionally, a Public Relations and Communications team comprising Abir Maru, Harry Sidhu, Kamlesh Kapoor, and Vijay Muralidaran has been added to the executive committee for the year.

The program also included live entertainment by Swapnil Sahu, Jitendra Bulsara, Payel Ganguly, Pratibha Jairath, and Pinky Thakkar, and dinner catered by India Foodie Lounge. The event concluded with recognition for the achievements of the outgoing team, including a Lifetime Achievement award for Sunil Shah and a Volunteer Award for Neil Khot from the Lions Club under the auspices of the President of the United States of America.

Overall, the event was a great success, and the new FIA team for 2024 is poised to continue the organization’s growth and service to the community.

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