The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) has decided to grant recognition to WAKO India Kickboxing Federation as National Sports Federation (NSF) for promotion and development of the Kickboxing sport in India. This was announced by MYAS through a press release today.

WAKO India Kickboxing Federation is affiliated to World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), which is the International Federation for the sport of Kickboxing. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board at its meeting on 10th June 2021 has approved the recommendation for WAKO to become fully recognized member of the Olympic family of sport.

WAKO have been provisionally recognized member of the IOC since 30 November 2018. The full recognition of WAKO will be finally decided by the IOC Session in Tokyo in July 2021. To be fully included and accepted in the Olympic movement is important for the recognition and development of the sport of kickboxing.

It is expected that with government recognition of WAKO India Kickboxing Federation as NSF, the sport of kickboxing will develop at a faster pace in the country.

WAKO IIndia came into existence with the name of Indian Association of Kickboxing Organizations (IAKO) in the year 1993, under the leadership of Sudhanshu Sekhar Harichandan as President. Later on, the organization was renamed as National Kickboxing Federation, N G in the year 2013 and shifted its head-quarters from Bhubaneswar to Pune when C A Tamboli got elected as the President.

In order to give a new shape to kickboxing sport in the country, the Federation had to undergo one more change in the name and its set up. As a result mandatory change took place in the month of June, 2017, WAKO India is now known as WAKO Kick Boxing Federation having its head-quarters & Regd Office at No. 7, 1st Floor, Achievers Centre Point Mall, Sector-49, Faridabad-121 001, Haryana. This Federation, popularly known as WAKO India is now headed by Santosh K Agrawal as President.
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PHOTO: File photo of WAKO India president Santosh K Agrawal with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju in Delhi.