Sri Lanka boxing event row: Haryana Olympic Association issues advisory against unrecognised sports events

After a controversy over participation of Haryana boxers in an international event hosted by Sri Lanka — organised by the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) — the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) has issued an advisory to all District Sports Officers and General Secretaries of District Olympic Associations, raising serious concerns about the increasing number of unauthorised sports events being conducted across the state.

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The advisory issued by the HOA president Jaswinder Meenu Beniwal today stated that certain organisations, not affiliated with the HOA, have been independently organising sports events, often misleading athletes into participation. “It could have serious consequences on the careers of the sportspersons,” he said.

The HOA president said that only state-level sports associations officially affiliated with the HOA are authorised to conduct recognised events. “Participation in competitions organised by unauthorised bodies could not only hamper an athlete’s career prospects but also compromise the structured development of sports in Haryana. The advisory further expressed concern over some officials who attend such unauthorised events. “It is a reminder of a shared responsibility to uphold the integrity of sport in Haryana," said HOA chief Beniwal.

The advisory comes in the wake of a recent controversy where 19 Indian boxers, including 17 from Haryana, participated in an international boxing event held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under the banner of a non-recognised federation. Although they returned with 17 medals, including gold, silver, and bronze, the event was not approved by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) or any international governing body.

As a result, the BFI has issued show-cause notices to all 19 participants and the associated officials, demanding explanations within 10 days. The event, now labelled as unauthorised, has disqualified the athletes from receiving any formal recognition or awards, regardless of their performances. Officials have pointed out that such incidents reflect the growing problem of parallel, unregulated sports bodies misleading athletes and undermining the state’s official sporting framework.