One of the frustrations of Indian sportspersons, sponsors and fans is that we would be a much better sporting nation if not for our sports administrators. Over the years, federation heads, often affiliated to political parties, have blatantly misused their position at great cost to athletes.
Here are some Indian administrators who suffered a blot on their reputation through their alleged misdeeds.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh
The 66-year-old sitting BJP MP from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh was re-elected as the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) for the third time in February 2019. Singh is a former wrestler and has been associated with wrestling for over three decades. However, since his appointment as the WFI president, he has faced criticism for his high-handed ways. Currently, he has been accused of sexually exploiting several female wrestlers. In December 2021, he allegedly slapped an overage wrestler during the under-15 national championship, who insisted on competing despite being disqualified. Singh has denied the allegations against him and remains defiant.
Suresh Kalmadi
The former President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) played a key role in the growth of athletics and other Olympic sports in India. But the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were to be his golden hour, proved to be his undoing. The event was mired in controversies, including allegations of corruption, poor infrastructure, and lack of security. The Central Vigilance Commission
(CVC), India's anti-corruption organisation, asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe certain aspects of the Commonwealth Games' handling. Kalmadi was arrested by the CBI in 2011 and sacked from his post.
Narinder Batra
Narinder Batra, who became the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 2016 and reclaimed the position in 2021 for a second term, resigned in July 2022. Batra is a prominent figure in Indian sports and has been associated with hockey for several years. However, his tenure as the FIH president was marred by controversies, including a CBI inquiry for alleged misappropriation of public funds. Batra also gave up his membership of the International Olympic Committee. His resignation has raised concerns about the need for transparency and accountability in international sports federations.
Praful Patel
The former president of the All-India Federation of Football (AIFF) is another controversial figure in Indian sports. Patel was accused of mismanaging Indian football for personal gain, leaving fans and players disillusioned. His nearly 12-year tenure ended in December 2020, but he initially refused to step down until the Supreme Court ordered him to do so. He was also accused of orchestrating the AIFF's suspension by arranging a threatening letter from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). After a fresh election, Kalyan Chaubey took over the AIFF's presidency, and FIFA later reinstated the Indian football body. Prior to Patel, the Congress party heavyweight Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi ran the AIFF from 1989 to 2008.
