
Lovlina Borgohain Accuses Boxing Federation Of India Of Disrespectful Behaviour, Investigation Underway
On the call Lovlina requested that her personal coach, who was also present in the online meeting, be allowed in the national camp, something that goes against the BFI policy. She also wanted the coach to be allowed to travel with her to train in Europe.
According to Lovlina, Malik responded aggressively and spoke to her in a demeaning manner.
"He blatantly told me to 'shut up, lower your head and do as we say.' His words were not only disrespectful but also carried an alarming tone of gender-discriminatory and authoritarian dominance -- something that no one, especially a woman who has brought honour to the nation, should be subjected to," Lovlina stated in her complaint.
"I was made to feel small, unheard, and powerless. It was not just a personal insult -- it was an attack on every woman athlete who dreams of standing tall, both in and outside the ring," Lovlina stated in her complaint.
She further asked for a "fair and swift inquiry" and also "necessary disciplinary action if these actions are found to be in violation of acceptable conduct." Malik, however, "categorically and unequivocally" denied the allegations, calling them "devoid of any merit." "Lovlina's requests were considered and respectfully declined, as they are inconsistent with the policies of the Boxing Federation of India.
"As per BFI's Selection Policy published in January 2025, it is mandatory for all athletes to participate in the National Coaching Camp to be considered for evaluation and selection for international competitions," Malik said in his reply.
"BFI, in the interest of fairness and uniformity, does not permit personal coaches or support staff within the National Camp." Taking note of the complaint, the IOA formed a panel, comprising TOPS CEO N S Johal, IOA's athletes commission vice chairperson Sharath Kamal and a woman advocate.
The entire interaction between Lovlina and Malik was recorded during the meeting and a member of the inquiry panel said a report would be submitted soon.
The committee was to give the report within two weeks of receiving the complaint but has been unable to convene a meeting due to "some prior commitments of its members".
"Due to some pressing commitments, the panel has not been able to convene a meeting so far. But it would be done soon and since there is video available of the entire chain of events, it won't be a very complicated matter to deal with," a panel member said.
It is learnt the Malik has asked the committee to expedite the process and also requested for the video recording of the interaction.
Lovlina, meanwhile, has refused to comment on the matter.
"I don't want to focus on this right now because it will affect my game. I don't want to comment until the committee comes up with a decision," Lovlina, who is also a world champion, said.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Delhi HC issues notice to Centre on plea alleging discrimination in cash awards for deaf athletes
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) issued a notice to the Centre on a petition challenging the Centre's revised cash award policy for sports persons, claiming it discriminates against deaf sports persons. The plea, filed by celebrated deaf athletes including international and national medal winners, challenged the 'Scheme of Cash Award to Medal Winners in International Sports Events' issued on February 1, 2025. The petitioners, represented by advocate Ajay Verma, contended that the scheme grants significantly lower monetary rewards to deaf athletes compared to para sports persons for equivalent sporting performances. This, Mr. Verma, argued violates the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and infringes constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 21. He further submitted that it runs contrary to Supreme Court rulings mandating equal treatment for persons with disabilities engaged in similar fields. 'Deaf sports persons have consistently brought laurels to the country at international sporting events of comparable stature to para-sport competitions. However, the present policy denies them equal monetary recognition, thereby undermining their dignity and contribution,' Mr. Verma told the court. The petitioners have sought striking down the contested provisions of the February 1 policy. They also urged for a direction for equal cash awards for deaf and para sportspersons for the same level of achievement. The petitioners also sought direction to extend benefits under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to eligible deaf sportspersons to ensure fair training and preparatory support. Apart from these, they have also sought full integration of deaf sportspersons into India's sports policy framework and incentive schemes. The court will hear the case again on October 29.


Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Farmers of 3 states to pay tributes to Satyapal Malik on August 18
Farmers of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will pay tributes to former governor and union minister Satyapal Malik, who died last week, at a ceremony in Yamunanagar on August 18. Former governor and union minister Satyapal Malik (File) Malik, a former three-time MP, breathed his last at the age of 79 on August 5 at a Delhi hospital. The Yamunanagar ceremony will be organised by the local unit of Bharatiya Kisan Union's Charuni faction. The activists of the group met at Jagadhri grain market on Tuesday under the chairmanship of district general secretary Gurveer Singh, to discuss the plan and announced the date for the ceremony. Unit's district president Sanju Gudiana said that duties were assigned to various members for the programme, where farmers from Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will arrive in large numbers. 'Our president Gurnam Singh Charuni and other senior leaders will also pay tributes to Malik. We will also invite the family members of Malik,' he said. Sanju further said that there is a lot of anger among the peasantry as well as people of the state as Malik was not accorded state honours during his cremation. 'He was no ordinary person. Malik sahab has been the governor of five states and a minister in the union government, a former MP, a former MLA. We all know he was given the punishment for speaking in favor of the farmers, while in power and also speaking against the government on the terrorist attack in Pulwama. Government may tend to ignore this, but the farmers will pay him the respect he deserves, even after his death,' the farmer leader said. Born in Baghpat in a Jat family, Malik supported the 2020-21 farmers' movement against the now scrapped three agricultural laws, while being the governor of Meghalaya. In March 2021, Malik extended his support to the farmers' agitation at the Delhi borders and also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to not offend the protesters. Later, he also openly supported the women wrestlers' agitation against sexual harassment at the national capital. SKM's 'Corporate Bharat Chhodo' protest today On the nationwide call of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), members of the BKU's Tikait faction will take out a tractor march at district and block levels across the state on Wednesday launching the 'Corporate Bharat Chhodo' campaign. Faction's state president Rattan Mann said that carrying Tiranga atop the tractors, the farmers' protest would be similar to the Quit India Movement. Mann said that the farmers will stage a protest to press for their key demands including a law guaranteeing MSP, farm loan waiver, a halt to the installation of smart meters on domestic power supply, and others. In Karnal, Mann will lead the protest rally from Jat Dharamshala to the DC office at Sector 12.


New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Overseas training camp for wrestlers ahead of Worlds
CHENNAI: After around three years, the Indian wrestling team selected for an international event will train abroad ahead of the tournament. The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) recently conducted trials to pick teams for the Senior World Championships scheduled in Zagreb, Croatia from September 13 to 21. The team comprising women's wrestlers, men's freestyle and Greco-Roman grapplers will train at Porec in Croatia before heading for the Worlds. The team comprises Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat, Tokyo Olympian Deepak Punia and Paris Olympian Antim Panghal. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) sanctioned the training camp which will also provide the selected wrestlers an opportunity to acclimatise before the important competition. As per the sanction accorded by the SAI, 51 members comprising 30 wrestlers and 12 coaches will attend the camp at cost to government while three managers will be at the venue at no cost to government. The sanction letter said the camp will be held from August 10 to September 10 but other international events and visa procurement meant the wrestlers will depart in batches only after August 20. "The camp for women wrestlers will be held from August 25 to September 12 while the men's freestyle grapplers' camp will begin on August 27 and continue till September 14. For the Greco-Roman wrestlers, the camp will start on August 29 and conclude on September 16," a WFI source told this daily. The World Championships will begin with competition in women's wrestling followed by freestyle and Greco-Roman bouts. Notably, the national wrestling team last had a joint overseas training camp in 2022. Protest by senior wrestlers followed by de-recognition of the WFI put a brake on such foreign training camps. The SAI, however, funded overseas preparation camps of a few selected wrestlers during this period. In 2024, the ad-hoc committee, which was managing the day-to-day affairs of the WFI, organised a training camp for Greco-Roman wrestlers in Baku, Azerbaijan. Besides them, the SAI-funded trips of a few selected women and freestyle wrestlers last year as well. Aman, one of India's brightest medal prospects, made his senior World Championships debut two years ago but could not finish on the podium. The tournament will be an opportunity for the 2022 U23 Worlds gold winner to capture a medal at the senior level. Antim, meanwhile, had a disappointing outing in Paris but she started the year by winning a bronze medal at the Asian Championship in March followed by two gold medals at the Mongolia Open and Polyak Imre and Varga Janos Memorial Ranking Series. Similarly, Deepak, who has switched to 92kg from 86kg, will also eye redemption and try to get back to the podium as he did in 2019 when he won 86kg silver and qualified for the Tokyo Games. He won a silver and a bronze in the two previous Ranking Series this year apart from bagging a silver medal at the 2025 Asian Championships. Teams Women's wrestling: 50kg-Ankush, 53kg-Antim Panghal, 55kg-Nishu, 57kg-Tapasya, 59kg-Neha Sangwan, 62kg-Manisha Bhanwala, 65kg-Vaishnavi Patil, 68kg-Srishti, 72kg-Jyoti Berwal, 76kg-Priya Malik. Men's freestyle: 57kg-Aman Sehrawat, 61kg-Udit Gulia, 65kg-Sujeet Kalkal, 70kg-Rohit, 74kg-Vikas, 79kg-Amit, 86kg-Mukul Dahiya, 92kg-Deepak Punia, 97kg-Vicky, 125kg-Rajat. Men's Greco-Roman: 55kg-Anil Mor, 60kg-Suraj, 63kg-Sunny Kumar, 67kg-Anil, 72kg-Ankit Gulia, 77kg-Aman, 82kg-Rahul, 87kg-Karan Kamboj, 97kg-Nitesh, 130kg-Sonu. Note: Jaideep Narwal got injured during trials and was replaced by silver medallist Vikas in men's 74kg freestyle.