Boxing | Lovlina alleges ‘humiliating behaviour’ by BFI official, he ‘respectfully’ denies | Boxing News
NEW DELHI: Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain has accused Boxing Federation of India’s executive director and interim committee member Col Arun Malik (Retd) of “disrespectful and gender-discriminatory behaviour”. The Indian Olympic Association has started a probe into these allegations.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!TOI has exclusively obtained Lovlina’s two-page complaint, in which the reigning middleweight world champion and a recipient of Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award, accused Malik of “demeaning” her achievements and “humiliating” her during a Target Olympic Podium Scheme meeting held via Zoom on July 8 last month. She described the experience as one that “left me deeply hurt, disheartened, and questioned the respect and dignity we, as women athletes, truly receive”.
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Malik denied all allegations and stated that the federation remained committed to supporting its athletes while upholding fairness, transparency and equal opportunity.In a statement, Malik said, “Lovlina is the pride of the nation, and we at BFI take immense pride in her achievements, especially her Olympic bronze. I respectfully and categorically deny the allegations levelled. The call in question was thoroughly professional in its entirety. It was attended by officials from SAI and TOPS and was officially recorded by the host. The same recording is with the respective officials for review. Matters raised by Lovlina were duly noted and addressed in line with BFI’s established policies, which apply uniformly to all athletes.”
Lovlina sent her complaint to sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Sports Authority of India director general Hari Ranjan Rao, TOPS division, IOA and BFI.In response, IOA has formed a three-member committee under the ministry’s directives. The committee includes TOPS CEO Nachhatar Singh Johal, table tennis legend and IOA’s athletes commission vice-chairperson Sharath Kamal and a female advocate. Tasked with submitting a report within two weeks, the committee has yet to release its findings despite nearly a month passing.Additionally, Ritu Pathik, SAI’s executive director of the TEAMS division, is investigating the matter independently.In her complaint, Lovlina stated: “I write this letter not just as an athlete, but as a woman who has spent years carrying the hopes of a nation in the boxing ring — with pride, pain and perseverance. What happened during a recent official meeting with the BFI and the TOPS on July 8, 2024, at 12pm has left me deeply hurt, disheartened. In the presence of respected individuals from TOPS, boxing coach Pranamika Boro, (other) BFI members, Mr Arun Malik, an official of BFI, humiliated me in a way no athlete should ever have to endure. He raised his voice at me, spoke in an aggressively demeaning manner, and blatantly told me to ‘shut up, lower your head and do as we say’. His words were not only disrespectful but also carried an alarming tone of gender-discriminatory and authoritarian dominance — something that no one, especially a woman who has brought honour to the nation, should be subjected to.”Lovlina, who is part of the Indian boxing contingent for the forthcoming World Championships in Liverpool, UK, from Sept 4 to 14, added: “In a space where I expected professionalism, support and mutual respect, I was made to feel small, unheard, and powerless. It was not just a personal insult — it was an attack on every woman athlete who dreams of standing tall, both in and outside the ring… I request the authorities for a fair and swift inquiry into Malik’s conduct during the meeting and necessary disciplinary action if these actions are found to be in violation of acceptable conduct.“The dispute arose when Lovlina requested the expertise of Pranamika Boro, a long-serving coach of the Indian women’s boxing team and part of the country’s contingent for the Paris Olympics 2024, to be her personal coach at the elite national camp in NIS Patiala and to allow her to train abroad in Europe in preparation for the Liverpool Worlds.It is alleged that Malik rejected her proposals before the TOPS division could consider them. The TOPS meeting was convened at Lovlina’s special request to discuss her demands.When contacted, Lovlina told TOI, “I don’t wish to comment at this juncture when an investigation is on. I have full faith in the committee and its findings. I will wait for the report to come before publicly commenting.”
