Gurugram: Days after the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) issued show-cause notices to athletes and officials for participating in what it said was an unauthorised competition in Sri Lanka’s Colombo, Haryana’s sports body has also weighed in, with a warning to state boxers.
In a post on X, the BFI on 4 June said the Asian Youth Boxing Championship, held in Colombo from 12-23 May, was illegitimate, warning that performances there won’t count toward future selections. On Monday, in an advisory, the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) directed district Olympic secretaries to ensure that athletes participate only in events recognised by the HOA and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
It further warned that involvement in unauthorised championships will disqualify athletes from state benefits, including cash awards and job opportunities under Haryana’s sports policy. The advisory also mandated strict monitoring and reporting of such activities to safeguard the integrity of recognised sports bodies.
Speaking to ThePrint, the HOA chief, Captain Jaswinder Meenu Beniwal, confirmed that the advisory targets the participation of Haryana boxers in the Colombo event, which lacks recognition from both the HOA and its affiliated Haryana Boxing Federation, operating under BFI’s umbrella.
“Parallel associations are popping up, luring kids to these sham championships with hefty fees from naïve parents dreaming of medals, cash awards, and government jobs under Haryana’s sports policy. But it’s all for nothing—these events hold no weight with us or the Indian Olympic Association,” Beniwal said.
He highlighted the lengths these fake associations go to dupe sportpersons and their families, including inviting VIPs like local MLAs and sports officials to lend a false sheen of legitimacy.
🚨 Important Notice 🚨
BFI issues show-cause notices to athletes & officials for participating in an unauthorised competition in Colombo. Performances at the event will not be recognised for future selections.#BFI #PunchMeinHaiDum pic.twitter.com/St5QyWepKe
— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) June 4, 2025
He said that when children come with medals from such events, villagers honour them and give huge receptions, but later, the players feel cheated when they learn that the championship was not legitimate.
According to rough estimates, around 4,000 boxers are training under recognised associations in Haryana, guided by reputed coaches, the state’s boxing scene thrives on a clear path to national and international stages. Unauthorised events, Beniwal warned, disrupt this ecosystem, exploiting young talent.
At the Colombo event, 19 Indian boxers, including 17 from Haryana plus one each from Delhi and Rajasthan, competed under the unrecognised Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) banner. Of these, 17 clinched medals—a gold by Mahi Siwach in the under-22 women’s category, 10 silvers, and six bronzes.
Jagdish Singh, a Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach in Bhiwani, explained that the dispute between the IABF and the BFI dates back to more than a decade.
The IABF, once the national body, was suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA, now IBA) in 2012 for election issues and derecognised by AIBA and the sports ministry by 2014. The BFI took over in 2016, earning an AIBA affiliation, sports ministry recognition, and Indian Olympic Association approval in 2017. It joined World Boxing in 2023 for Olympic alignment, amid the IBA’s 2019 IOC derecognition over financing, governance and other ethical issues.
Yet, some still participate in IABF events, causing confusion.
A letter from the BFI, dated 1 June and signed by Executive Director Col. Arun Malik (Retd), reaffirmed BFI’s status as the sole National Sports Federation for boxing in India, recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and affiliated with World Boxing, the only International Olympic Committee-sanctioned global body for the sport.
It accused the defunct IABF of mismanagement, falsely posing as the national sports federation, and claiming ties to the unrecognised IBA and ASBC, misleading athletes and the public for gain.
Rewards in limbo
In its notification, BFI asked participants and coaches to explain their actions within 10 days. A parent, speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, expressed dismay. “My daughter earned her spot based on merit. How were we to know the association wasn’t legit? She’s now a scapegoat in this mess of internal feuds.”
Another parent said their children the event in Colombo was recognised by the IABF and denied receiving notices from the BFI.
“The association that sent our children to Colombo is a separate one (IABF), and the BFI shouldn’t have anything to do with it. Whether the government gives our children the benefits or not will be seen when the situation comes,” they added.
“We are happy that our children have international medals. Our only worry is that the Haryana Olympic Association or any other body doesn’t harm the career of our children.”
He said that children should not be made to suffer because of the disputes between the two associations.
ThePrint reached out to Rajiv Kumar, the coach of the team that participated in Colombo, for comment through calls and messages. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
Jagdish Singh further told ThePrint that BFI is the sole recognised body since 2012, but parents opt for IABF events for medals like “Asian champion” titles when BFI tournaments are tough, seeing it as “something better than nothing”. Singh noted BFI notices might result in bans or warnings for those in unsanctioned events.
The stakes are particularly high since, under the Haryana sports policy, the cash rewards for medal winners in international competitions are significant and scaled based on the prestige of the event. For instance, a gold medallist at the Olympic or Paralympic Games is awarded a staggering Rs 6 crore, while silver medallists receive Rs 4 crore, and bronze medallists are honoured with Rs 2.50 crore.
Even participation in these elite events is recognised with a cash reward of Rs 15 lakh. For the Asian and Para Asian Games, gold medallists receive Rs 3 crore, silver medallists Rs 1.5 crore, and bronze medallists Rs 75 lakh, with participants getting Rs 7.50 lakh. Similarly, Commonwealth Games and Para Commonwealth Games medallists are awarded Rs 1.5 crore for gold, Rs 75 lakh for silver, and Rs 50 lakh for bronze, plus Rs 7.50 lakh for participation.
The policy also extends generous awards for the World Cup/Championships (quadrennial events), Deaflympics, and Youth Olympic Games, among others. Junior and sub-junior categories in various championships also receive proportional cash awards, further encouraging young talent.
Beyond monetary incentives, the Haryana sports policy is renowned for its ‘Padak Lao, Naukri Pao’ (bring a medal, get a job) initiative, which guarantees government employment to outstanding sportspersons. However, these rewards hinge on participation in BFI-sanctioned events, leaving the medals won at the Colombo championship in limbo.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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