India’s boxing administration might be in shambles but International Boxing Association (AIBA) President Dr Ching Kuo Wu says the country still counts among the best in Asia and efforts would be made to bring it back into the semi-professional World Series of Boxing (WSB).

“We have got strong and traditional boxing nations in the continent, I would like to mention at least Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China, Thailand, India and Mongolia,” Dr Wu said on the sidelines of the ongoing Asian Championships here.

Three Indian boxers have made the semi-finals of the ongoing event, which is a qualifier for the World Championship in Doha. Incidentally, World Championship is the first qualifying tournament for the next year’s Rio Olympics.

The performance is despite the administrative mess back home. As of now, the country does not have an active federation after a new body — formed only last year — disintegrated following the sacking of its President and Secretary General owing to a revolt by the state units.

Dr Wu said India is a huge market which remains untapped and efforts would be made to bring it back into WSB.

“We have to keep focusing to involve more nations from Asia especially India and Thailand to the World Series of Boxing which is our successful project. India is a big market with a lot of boxers therefore our job has not been finalised yet in the continent,” said Dr Wu.

“The environment is perfect in the Asian continent therefore boxing could be even more popular in the upcoming years,” he added.

India had a WSB franchise till 2012 before administrative turmoil played a part in the owners giving up the stake.

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