WAKO India forms new Governing Council to strengthen kickboxing in Delhi
Delhi’s sporting landscape received a boost with the appointment of senior IAS officer Sonal Goel as the new President of the All Delhi Kickboxing Association. The announcement came during the General Body Meeting of WAKO India Kickboxing Federation at the Constitution Club of India, where the association’s fresh Governing Council was also unveiled.
A Leadership Move for Kickboxing’s Growth
The decision to bring Goel on board is viewed as a significant step toward giving kickboxing a more organized and impactful presence in the capital. Santosh Agarwal, President of WAKO India, remarked that the involvement of an experienced administrator like Goel would provide strong direction.
“With an IAS officer of Sonal Goel’s calibre at the helm, the sport in Delhi will see both structural expansion and broader recognition nationwide,” he observed.
Profile of Sonal Goel
Belonging to the 2008 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (Tripura cadre), Goel is among the well-known officers in civil services circles. She cracked the UPSC Civil Services Examination with an All India Rank of 13. An alumna of SRCC, University of Delhi, she has multiple academic distinctions, including a B.Com (Hons.), LL.B., Company Secretary (CS), and a Master’s in Public Policy from IGNOU.
Goel has held several important assignments in both state and central administrations and is currently on earned leave from her role as Secretary in the Tripura government.
Born in 1982, she comes from a family rooted in academics—her father is a Chartered Accountant, while her husband, Aditya Yadav, is an IRS officer. The couple are parents to two children.
Advocacy for Women and Sports
Upon taking charge, Goel underlined her intention to use kickboxing not only as a competitive sport but also as a medium of empowerment for young women and girls.
“Kickboxing enhances stamina, discipline, and mental toughness, while also equipping women with a vital tool for self-defence,” she stated.
She also drew attention to her collaboration with ‘Nidar Betiyan’, a campaign run by Sarv Hitam Manav Seva Sansthan, which organizes free self-defence workshops for schoolgirls in Delhi.
The New Governing Council
The All Delhi Kickboxing Association’s Governing Council will now include:
Anil Kumar Singhal – Vice President
Ranjay Atrishya – Vice President
Amit Poddar – General Secretary
Jaikaran Singh Bhadauriya – Joint Secretary
Krishan Dalania – Treasurer
Arka Mandal – Executive Member
Ashish Kumar – Executive Member
Honouring Achievements
The gathering also celebrated the accomplishments of medal-winning athletes and their coaches, who were honoured by Shetty Udaya Kumar Sagar, Standing Counsel for Telangana at the Supreme Court and Additional Advocate General for Haryana.
National Context and Sports Push
The Delhi association operates under the umbrella of the WAKO India Kickboxing Federation, the apex national body recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and affiliated with WAKO International, which has recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Highlighting the broader sports mission, Santosh Agarwal said that under the Khelo India programme, the Asmita League has been initiated to encourage self-defence and participation of girls in sports. WAKO India has been assigned the task of hosting these events in 150 cities across the country.
