24 controversies that rocked Indian sports in 2024

Indian Sports and controversies go hand-in-hand looking like a match made in heaven. It is such a match that can put the Bollywood romantic scripts to shame.

In the year 2024, a year which was marked by a disappointing Olympic Games campaign and several rare feats in several World Championships, it was the controversies that kept on flowing throughout the year making it an interesting year.

Here's a rewind of the year's 24 most notable controversies.

Vinesh Phogat's disqualification from Olympics due to 100g

Indian wrestling star Vinesh Phogat faced heartbreak at the Paris Olympics when she was disqualified for weighing 100 grams over her category limit.

She had reached the final after defeating reigning champion Yui Susaki but couldn’t compete due to the weight issue.

Despite appealing the decision, her dreams of an Olympic medal were dashed.

Antim Panghal evicted from Paris Olympics

Indian wrestler Antim Panghal was deported from the Paris Olympics after attempting to use her accreditation card to sneak her sister into the athletes’ village. The Indian Olympic Association acted swiftly, sending her back to India and leaving a stain on the nation’s reputation.

Bajrang Punia doping ban

Wrestler Bajrang Punia faced a career-ending four-year suspension for refusing to provide a dope test sample.

Initially suspended in April, the ruling was upheld by the National Anti-Doping Agency in November. The decision ended his wrestling career and jeopardized future opportunities in coaching.

A controversial goal ruins Indian FIFA World Cup dream

India’s FIFA World Cup dream ended in controversy after a dubious equalizer from Qatar was allowed to stand.

Despite Lallianzuala Chhangte’s stunning goal giving India an early lead, questionable officiating turned the tide in Qatar’s favor.

The incident reignited calls for better refereeing standards in global football.

Anwar Ali v AIFF

Indian footballer Anwar Ali was suspended for four months by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) after breaching contract terms.

Ali terminated his four-year loan deal with Mohun Bagan Super Giant to join East Bengal without proper clearance, leading to legal action and suspension. However, the Delhi court cleared his ban in the end.

I-League broadcasters controversy

India's second-division football was looking like a headless chicken when there was no idea about the broadcaster just hours before the scheduled kick-off on November 22.

The clubs said it was not financially viable for them to pay for the broadcast too. AIFF looked clueless and the future of the tournament looked bleak.

AIFF eventually brought in Sony as a broadcast partner.

Indian Golf Union Election Controversy 

The general elections of the Indian Golf Union were delayed multiple times due to the conflict between the returning officer and the federation members.

However, finally, the elections were conducted and Harish Kumar Reddy will function as the new president.

Manu Bhaker Khel Ratna Controversy

Double Olympic gold medalist shooter Manu Bhaker made it to the news at the end of the year as her name was missing from the nomination list for the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

While her father Ram Kishan Bhaker and coach Jaspal Rana claimed ignorance on the part of the Sports Ministry and SAI, the ministry said that the list is not final.

Manu came up with clarification saying that there might have been a lapse from her side.

Mizoram State Football Fixing

In November, the Mizoram Football Association (MFA) announced a ban on three clubs, three officials and 24 players on allegations pertaining to match-fixing in the recently concluded Mizoram Premier League.

Three clubs, namely, Sihphir Venghlun FC, FC Bethlehem, and Ramhlun Athletic FC were banned for three years, along with three match officials. As many as 24 players were banned by the Mizoram FA, and two players, Lalnunzama of Chanmari FC, and L. Lotha of FC Bethlehem were 'banned from any and all football activities for a lifetime.'

Parvej Khan Doping

Track athlete Parvej Khan shot to fame following his wins at the NCAA circuit in the USA and his social media following increased following his theatrics on the track.

However, when the 1500m runner returned to the country for the Inter-State Nationals in June 2024, he was caught by NADA for EPO which is a red blood cell-boosting drug that helps in enhancing the endurance of an athlete.

He was banned provisionally by NADA.

Hima Das confusing doping sanction

Another doping saga that confused everyone was Hima Das getting banned for 'whereabouts failure'.

After she was banned by NADA in 2023 for failing to submit her whereabouts details the ban was overturned later in April 2024. 

She participated in four races after her ban was overturned but in another decision in December 2024 from NADA said that her ban period was from June 2023 to November 2024.

The decision means that Hima Das ran four races despite being banned from participating in events, leaving the doping agency red-faced in handling the situation.

Diljit Dosanjh and his concert in JLN Stadium

Indian stadiums are often rented out for different events including concerts, food festivals, and literature festivals.

However, when Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh announced his Dil-luminati tour in Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, he had no idea it would be headlines in the sports sections of the Indian dailies due to all the wrong reasons.

The audience turnout at the stadium resulted in damage to the property of young athletes who practiced there and the track being in shabby condition with all the litter around.

IOA CEO Row

The Indian Olympic Association has been in the news in the year 2024 and not for the right reasons.

One of the reasons why IOA has been in the news is due to the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as the CEO dividing the organization into two sections.

While President PT Usha is the one validating the appointment, the members of the executive council oppose it vehemently creating a big rift.

As of now, there has been no resolution.

Infighting in IOA

If that one reason for the CEO appointment is not enough for the fighting, the stand-off between treasurer Sahdev Yadav and PT Usha led to IOA making more headlines.

PT Usha claimed that Sahdev is ineligible to bear the responsibility of treasurer in IOA with Sahdev hitting with threats of filing a defamation complaint.

Arif Khan's scholarship denied

Another situation where IOA was shamed was when Winter Olympian Arif Khan's scholarship granted by the International Olympic Committee was held back by the finance department.

The department questioned the eligibility of Arif which prompted him to take the matter to PT Usha and IOC.

The issue has stretched so much that the International Olympic Committee has suspended the solidarity funding for IOA.

Janneke Schopman v Hockey India

Former national coach of the Indian women's hockey team Janneke Schopman resigned from her position earlier in the year when India lost a chance to qualify for the Olympics on home turf.

However, before leaving she alleged complaints about the difficult environment for working women in the country.

She expressed her frustration with the day-to-day obstacles she encountered as a woman in her role, shedding light on systemic gender disparities within the sport in India.

Igor Stimac lashes out at AIFF

Former Indian men's football team coach Igor Stimac was sacked after the Indian team failed to win any game at the Asian Cup 2024 in January.

Before going, Igor held a press conference for the media and bashed the All India Football Federation for not honoring his contract and also not paying him.

The Drama of the Wrestling Federation of India

Indian wrestling has been in tatters since the protests against the former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh broke in 2023 April.

WFI was banned by UWW for third-party interference which was lifted once the newly elected body led by Sanjay Singh came into action.

However, due to his proximity with Brij Bhushan, Bajrang Punia, and Sakshi Malik filed a case in the Delhi High Court that resulted in the court questioning the legitimacy of WFI and suspending them.

The suspension meant that none of the tournaments organized by them were recognized leaving the future of the sport in the country hanging.

Baseball Federation uses an incorrect map of India

The Amateur Baseball Federation of India was criticized for using the wrong map of the country on the jersey of the Indian team during the Baseball United.

ABFI apologized later in a statement correcting their mistake.

Ranjit Bajaj alleges fixing in I League and ISL

Owner of I League club Delhi FC, Ranjit Bajaj alleged that both I League and Indian Super League are fixed.

His allegations, made through a series of social media posts, have sent ripples through the football community, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the sport in the country.

Virdhawal Khade accused of Sexual harassment

Olympian and decorated swimmer Virdhawal Khade was suspended by GMMA for sending illicit messages to a minor student. The incident sparked anger among the Indian fans.

PV Sindhu's badminton academy

Star Indian shuttler PV Sindhu faced protests from the locals when she decided to use the land allotted to her by the government to create a badminton academy.

The protests were led by former TDP corporator Vommi Sanyasi Rao. They demanded that the land allotted to Sindhu be used for a junior college and a school instead.