Sports

BFI Chief Claims Kalita Prevented Lovlina from Competing in Nationals; Vows to Fully Support Boxers

Published

1 year ago

March 20, 2025

The ongoing disputes within the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) intensified as current president Ajay Singh accused suspended secretary Hemanta Kumar Kalita of obstructing Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain’s participation in the upcoming women’s senior national championships in Greater Noida. Despite these tensions, Singh assured his full support for the boxers competing in the tournament.

“Assam is discouraging players from taking part in the women’s Nationals. Lovlina has recorded a supportive video, yet officials have been informed that she was advised by Hemanta Kalita not to participate. Given her strong ties to Assam boxing, she is reconsidering her decision to compete,” Singh stated during an “emergency press conference” held in the city.

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Singh criticized state associations for hindering boxers’ entries into the senior nationals due to political issues, labeling such actions as detrimental to the sport. He promised that the BFI would cover all costs for players impacted by state-level politics, ensuring they can participate in the competition without obstacles.

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“If any state federation prevents their boxers from attending or cancels their travel arrangements, the Boxing Federation of India and I will personally ensure that those boxers receive support to compete in the Nationals. We will provide tickets, accommodations, and other necessary assistance,” Singh declared to the media on Wednesday.

“A dedicated helpline (7003191553) will be set up for them. Boxers can call this number for assistance, and we will handle the arrangements,” he added.

The senior national championship is slated to take place in Greater Noida from March 20-27, while several state associations, at odds with the BFI ahead of the March 28 elections, have been accused of stifling boxer entries for the competition.

This event occurs amid the suspension of BFI General Secretary Hemanta Kumar Kalita and Treasurer Digvijay Singh, following a corruption inquiry that found both officials guilty of abusing their positions for personal gain. The investigation was conducted by former Delhi High Court judge Sudhir Kumar Jain.

“I must emphasize this, especially for my friends from Assam—there is an obstruction to their team attending the national championships. In my opinion, Kalita and the Federation in Assam bear responsibility for this. We cannot overlook the interests of the athletes. While political differences are inevitable, preventing athletes from competing in a national championship is a serious disservice to the sport that we must collectively oppose,” Singh asserted.

Responding to claims that the suspensions were politically driven, Singh reiterated that the decision adhered to the BFI Constitution.

“Based on the findings of that report, I have suspended the Secretary General and Treasurer from their positions. It is with great regret that such actions are necessary to uphold the integrity of the Federation I currently preside over,” he stated, adding that the BFI had forwarded the report to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for further action, which will be determined in cooperation with them.

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Sports

Tim David Faces Criticism for Obscene Celebration against Mumbai Indians

Published

6 days ago

May 11, 2026

Namma Kudla

IPL 2026 : In a dramatic IPL 2026 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru player Tim David has landed in controversy for allegedly making an obscene gesture after his team’s thrilling win against Mumbai Indians.

The incident took place during the 54th match of the Indian Premier League in Raipur. Batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 167 runs in 20 overs and set a competitive target for RCB.

While chasing the target, Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed 15 runs in the final over. The match went down to the last ball, where RCB required two runs for victory. Rasikh Dar helped the team secure a thrilling win in the final delivery.

Soon after the victory, Tim David, who was in the dugout, was seen allegedly showing his middle finger towards the Mumbai Indians camp during the celebrations. The video of the incident quickly went viral on social media and triggered criticism from cricket fans.

Reports suggest that match officials could take disciplinary action against the Australian batter. Under the ICC Code of Conduct, obscene or offensive gestures are considered a serious offence.

Such behaviour usually falls under Level 1 or Level 2 breaches of the ICC rules. Players found guilty can face fines ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent of their match fees. Demerit points may also be added to their disciplinary record. Repeated offences can even lead to suspension from matches.

Similar incidents have happened in the past as well. In 2012, Virat Kohli was fined 50 percent of his match fee for showing the middle finger to spectators during a match in Sydney.

Cricket is widely known as a “gentleman’s game,” and players are expected to maintain discipline and respect on the field. Tim David’s celebration has now sparked debate among fans and experts about sportsmanship in modern cricket.

Sports

Pooran Super over Call Sparks Criticism

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant faced criticism after a failed Super Over decision against Kolkata Knight Riders. LSG sent Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram to bat, with Pooran on strike against Sunil Narine.

Pooran was bowled on the first ball, leading to heavy criticism from fans. Many questioned the decision, especially because Narine had earlier troubled Pooran in a past Super Over.

LSG coach Justin Langer defended the move. He said the team trusted Pooran as he has faced Narine many times and has a strong record against him. He added that teams must back their best players even in difficult moments.

Langer also said Pooran is one of the best T20 players in recent years but is currently low on confidence. He assured that the team is working hard to help him regain form

Despite being at the bottom of the table, LSG remains hopeful. Langer said the team will use the break to improve and aim to win their remaining matches.

Sports

King Kohli Creates Two Records in One Match

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bengaluru: Virat Kohli made history in a match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against Gujarat Titans. He achieved two big records in a single game.

Kohli became the first player in Indian Premier League history to hit 800 boundaries. He now has 807 fours. Shikhar Dhawan is second with 768, followed by David Warner and Rohit Sharma.

He also became the third player to hit 300 sixes in IPL. He reached this mark with his first six in the match. Chris Gayle leads with 357 sixes, while Rohit Sharma has 310.