India's Shame: Federation Heads Who Brought Disgrace Upon Themselves

In a latest twist, Indian wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat, returned to protest site Jantar Mantar to demand that the government makes public the findings of the oversight panel that investigated into sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The wrestlers, surrounded by a huge posse of police personnel, also demanded that an FIR be lodged against the WFI boss, who has denied the allegations that first surfaced in January this year when grapplers had staged a 'sit-in' protest and demanded that federation be disbanded.

It was on January 18 that saw startling revelations when a crying Vinesh Phogat, a Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medalist, alleged that the sidelined Wresting Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been sexually exploiting women wrestlers for many years. Phogat also said that several coaches at the national camp in Lucknow have exploited women wrestlers at the behest of the WFI President.

Indian sport is notorious for its corrupt administrators. Here are some federation heads across sports that brought shame to themselves and their sport.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (Wrestling Federation Of India)

The 66-year-old is a sitting BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh. This gives him political heft and ensures that few speak up against him. Singh was elected unopposed as the President of the Wrestling Federation Of India (WFI) for a third consecutive term in February 2019. However, ever since his appointment, his high-handed ways have landed him in trouble. In December 2021, he slapped an overage wrestler during the under-15 national championship when the contestant insisted on competing after being disqualified. Despite the allegations of Phogat and Co, and with the Sports Ministry now getting involved, Singh rejected all the charges against him and refused to quit his post.

Suresh Kalmadi (Indian Olympic Association)

One of the most farcical chapters of Indian sport came in 2012, when Suresh Kalmadi, the then President of the Indian Olympic Association, came under scrutiny as the Central Vigilance Commission (India's anti-corruption organisation) asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe certain aspects of the Commonwealth Games' handling. India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games but more than the players, the controversies hogged the limelight. Right from sex trade to poor ticket sales, CWG 2010 was a disaster. Kalmadi was arrested in 2011 by the CBI and was sacked from the post of the President of the IOA.

Narinder Batra (FIH Hockey)

In July 2022, Narinder Batra resigned as President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and also gave up his membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which came as a shock to many sports enthusiasts and hockey aficionados. Batra became president of FIH in 2016 and reclaimed the position in 2021 for a second term. However, his tenure was marred by controversies, including a CBI inquiry for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Praful Patel (AIFF)

Patel’s alleged mismanagement of Indian football for personal gain repeatedly left fans and players disillusioned. But the chair was dear to Patel. Even though his nearly 12-year tenure as president of the All India Federation Of Football (AIFF) ended in December 2020, he clung on for a while till the Supreme Court gave him the marching orders. Before Patel, it was yet another politician, the Congress party heavyweight Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who ran the AIFF from 1989 to 2008. Patel had taken over as full-time AIFF president in October 2009 before being re-elected to the top post in December 2012 and 2016. Patel was accused of orchestrating the AIFF's suspension by arranging a letter from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) of threatening AIFF with a suspension if he wasn't restored back to the presidency. However, after a fresh election, Kalyan Chaubey took over the reins of AIFF and FIFA later reinstated the Indian football body.