Sports

BFI Suspends Secretary Kalita and Treasurer Singh Amid Financial Irregularities

Published

1 year ago

March 19, 2025

On Tuesday evening, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) faced significant upheaval as current president Ajay Singh suspended secretary Hemanta Kumar Kalita and treasurer Digvijay Singh. The suspensions were attributed to “alleged financial irregularities and mismanagement of funds,” occurring just 10 days before the federation’s elections scheduled for March 28.

Additionally, Kalita’s bid for the BFI presidency was thwarted when it was revealed that he is subject to a mandatory cooling-off period after serving two consecutive four-year terms as an office bearer.

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With Kalita now disqualified, the race for the presidency has narrowed to three candidates: incumbent Ajay Singh, vice president Rajesh Bhandari, and D Chandrala, secretary of the Kerala State Amateur Boxing Association.

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In a media statement, Singh explained that the suspensions followed an independent investigation led by former Delhi High Court justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, appointed by the BFI. This inquiry was prompted by a complaint from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and concluded that Kalita and Digvijay Singh were “guilty of serious financial irregularities and mismanagement of funds.”

“The report’s findings demonstrate a clear violation of fiduciary duties and responsibilities expected from those in key positions within the Federation,” Singh’s letter noted.

“Given the severity of the findings and to uphold the integrity and transparency of the Federation’s operations, both of you are suspended from your roles as Secretary General and Treasurer of the Boxing Federation of India, effective immediately,” it continued.

After reviewing the nominations on Tuesday, Returning Officer RK Gauba declared Kalita “ineligible” for the upcoming election, citing the National Sports Code, which requires a four-year cooling-off period for officials who have already served two consecutive four-year terms.

Previously, Kalita served as BFI treasurer before being elected as secretary for the term 2021-25.

In another development, Karnataka’s Satish N had his nomination for secretary general rejected because his candidacy was seconded by Dhirendra Singh, who had already nominated Pramod Kumar for the same role.

The final list of valid nominations and withdrawals is expected to be published on Wednesday. The elections, which have been postponed multiple times, will take place during the BFI’s Annual General Meeting in Gurugram on March 28.

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Sports

Spain Beat France 2-0 to Reach FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

Published

4 days ago

July 15, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Spain defeated France 2-0 in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to book their place in the final. The defeat ended France’s title hopes under captain Kylian Mbappe.

Spain took the lead in the 20th minute. Young star Lamine Yamal was fouled by France’s Lucas Digne inside the penalty area. Spain was awarded a penalty, and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted the spot kick to make it 1-0.

The goal was Oyarzabal’s fifth of the tournament. He equalled David Villa’s record for the most goals scored by a Spanish player in a single FIFA World Cup.

Spain doubled its lead in the 58th minute. Right-back Pedro Porro scored after receiving a fine pass from Dani Olmo. The goal gave Spain complete control of the match.

France suffered an early setback when central defender William Saliba left the field with an injury in the first half. Despite having stars like Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, France failed to score. It was the team’s first match of the tournament without a goal.

Spain also created history in the World Cup semi-finals. It became the first team to start two teenagers, 19-year-olds Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, in a World Cup semi-final.

The victory sent Spain into the FIFA World Cup final for the second time and for the first time since 2010.

Spain will face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday’s final.

France, meanwhile, missed the chance to reach a third straight World Cup final. The defeat also marked the end of coach Didier Deschamps’ long and successful journey with the national team.

Sports

Passenger Turns Flight into FIFA Watch Party during Match

Published

7 days ago

July 12, 2026

Namma Kudla

FIFA World cup: A football fan turned a regular flight into a memorable FIFA World Cup watch party by streaming the Argentina vs Egypt match for fellow passengers.

The fan paid for the airplane’s WiFi and stood at the front of the cabin with his laptop. He streamed the live match so that everyone on board could watch it.

The flight had 187 passengers. Many leaned into the aisle, while some stood up to get a better view of the screen. The passengers watched the exciting match together and cheered for the teams.

Argentina made a stunning comeback after trailing 2-0. Led by Lionel Messi, the team fought back to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a thrilling contest.

A video of the moment was shared on X and quickly went viral. Social media users praised the fan for bringing strangers together and creating a special experience during the flight.

The match also ended with a controversial VAR decision. Egypt believed they had scored a second goal after taking a 1-0 lead. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review.

Match officials ruled that an Egyptian player had fouled Argentina defender Lisandro Martínez before the goal was scored. As a result, the goal was cancelled, leaving Egypt’s players and many fans disappointed.

Sports

Yuvraj Singh Set to Begin Coaching Career with Delhi Capitals

Published

4 weeks ago

June 20, 2026

Namma Kudla

Sports: Former India all-rounder and cricket legend Yuvraj Singh is set to begin his coaching career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2027 season, according to reports.

Sources say that Yuvraj Singh is likely to join the Delhi Capitals coaching staff for the 20th edition of the IPL. He is expected to take up the role of batting coach for the franchise.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is also expected to return to the Delhi Capitals setup. Reports suggest that Ganguly wants Yuvraj Singh to be part of the team’s support staff.

The Delhi Capitals franchise is jointly owned by GMR Group and JSW Group. The two groups manage the team on a rotational basis for two-year periods. GMR Group was in charge during the 2025 and 2026 seasons. From 2027, JSW Group will take control of the franchise for the next two years.

Reports indicate that major changes are being planned within the team. Yuvraj Singh’s appointment is believed to be one of those changes.

During the previous JSW management period, Sourav Ganguly served as the Director of Cricket for Delhi Capitals. Recently, under Ganguly’s guidance, the Pretoria Capitals reached the final of the SA20 league. This success has increased the possibility of his return to a key role with Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals had disappointing campaigns in IPL 2025 and IPL 2026. Despite having several star players, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs in both seasons under captain Axar Patel.

Hemang Badani is currently the head coach of the team. However, reports suggest that his position could be under pressure after two unsuccessful seasons.

Fans are now eager to see whether the experience of Sourav Ganguly and the aggressive cricketing approach of Yuvraj Singh can help Delhi Capitals achieve better results in IPL 2027.