IOA faces Asian Games selection headache across key sports

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is facing a challenging time finalising the athletes’ contingent in some key sports disciplines for the Asian Games in Japan due to internal disputes, ongoing legal and administrative proceedings and the absence of a unified national structure affecting the conduct of certain national federations.

The IOA is working towards resolving the issues on a priority basis so that athletes’ interests don’t suffer, but selection challenges remain. TOI lists 11 such NSFs...

Football | India’s men’s and women’s teams may not travel to Aichi-Nagoya as the IOA will follow the sports ministry’s rule allowing only teams in the top-8 (and individuals ranked top-6) in Asia for the event. India’s men are 27th in Asia (141st world) and women 12th in Asia (67th world).





Handball | The sport has two factions — Handball Association of India and Handball Federation of India — and neither are recognised. A court ruling discourages IOA from constituting an ad-hoc body, instead asking the executive committee (EC) to recognise the one faction that fulfills its criteria.

Volleyball | The newly-elected Volleyball Federation of India has received provisional recognition from the IOA, following the global body FIVB’s provisional recognition to the VFI’s interim body for a six-month period. The interim panel will handle Asiad selections.

Table Tennis | The Table Tennis Federation of India faces an internal conflict after secretary Kamlesh Mehta’s removal by the Meghna Ahlawat-led body. The dispute has reached the courts and arriving at a resolution may delay Asiad team selection.

Taekwondo | Neither the Taekwondo Federation of India nor India Taekwondo is recognised by the ministry or IOA, though India Taekwondo is recognised internationally. With court cases ongoing, IOA and SAI will conduct selections.

Gymnastics | Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) elections remain stalled after a 2023 Delhi HC stay for violating the sports code. Asiad selections will be supervised by IOA and SAI.

Karate | Under an IOA ad-hoc body rule. Several groups — All India Karate-Do Federation, Karate Association of India, Karate India Organisation, Karate India and the Karate Federation of India — claim authority but none are recognised, leading to confusion over who is the valid voice.

Golf | Rival factions within the Indian Golf Union (IGF) are squabbling over validity over Asiad entries. While one faction is recognised by the ministry and IGF, the other finds support from the IOA. The case is pending in court, leaving the eligible golfers hanging as they await clarity.

Boxing | The Boxing Federation of India was granted provisional recognition by the ministry until the WBC Finals last Nov. The election disputes involving Ajay Singh’s third term continue to affect the body’s functioning. The Himachal Pradesh Boxing Association has challenged the elections’ fairness in court.

Equestrian | The Equestrian Federation of India comes under the ad-hoc body rule this week, after the IOA informed the bench about its formation within the next three days. The panel will manage the federation’s operations, select the Asiad team and hold elections at the earliest.

Judo | The Judo Federation of India is run by a Delhi HCappointed administrator, Justice (retd) Pankaj Naqvi, who will conduct trials in consultation with SAI and select the Asiad team.