BFI Official Told Me to ‘Shut Up, Lower Your Head & Do as We Say’: Olympic Medallist Lovlina
In a shocking revelation, Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer Lovlina Borgohain has accused the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) executive director Col Arun Malik of humiliating her and undermining her achievements during a Zoom meeting. The meeting, which was attended by officials from the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), has left the Indian sports fraternity in a state of shock and outrage.
According to Lovlina, Col Malik’s words were not only disrespectful but also carried an alarming tone of gender-discriminatory dominance. The incident has sparked an inquiry by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which has promised to take stern action against the BFI official.
In an exclusive interview with Indian Express, Lovlina revealed the shocking details of the Zoom meeting. “He told me to ‘shut up, lower your head and do as we say’. His words weren’t only disrespectful but also carried an alarming tone of gender-discriminatory dominance. I was taken aback by his behavior and felt embarrassed to be part of such a meeting,” Lovlina said.
The incident has raised questions about the treatment of female athletes in India and the kind of environment they are expected to work in. Lovlina’s bravery in speaking out against the BFI official’s behavior is a testament to her character and determination to stand up for what is right.
The incident occurred during a review meeting of the TOPS scheme, which is designed to support Indian athletes in their pursuit of Olympic medals. Lovlina, who won a bronze medal in the women’s welterweight category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was one of the athletes present at the meeting.
The meeting was supposed to be a routine review of the athletes’ performance and the support they were receiving from the BFI and other government agencies. However, things took a turn for the worse when Col Malik started making derogatory comments about Lovlina’s performance.
“I was being asked about my performance, and I was trying to explain my points. But Col Malik kept interrupting me and telling me to ‘shut up’ and ‘lower my head’. He was speaking in a very condescending tone, and it was clear that he didn’t respect my opinions,” Lovlina said.
The incident has sparked outrage among athletes, coaches, and sports administrators in India. Many have come forward to support Lovlina and condemn Col Malik’s behavior.
“This is unacceptable behavior from a BFI official. Lovlina is a national hero, and she deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We demand an apology from Col Malik and an inquiry into his behavior,” said a senior coach from the Indian Boxing team.
The IOA has promised to take stern action against Col Malik and has launched an inquiry into the incident. “We take all allegations of misconduct seriously, and we will ensure that justice is served. Lovlina’s bravery in speaking out against Col Malik’s behavior is commendable, and we will support her in every way possible,” said IOA president Narayanan Vaghulam.
The incident has also raised questions about the kind of environment that female athletes are expected to work in. Lovlina’s experience is not an isolated incident, and many female athletes have spoken out about the kind of discrimination and harassment they face in their careers.
“This is just one example of the kind of discrimination that female athletes face in India. We need to create a safe and supportive environment for our athletes to thrive. Lovlina’s bravery is a testament to the fact that we need to do better,” said a senior official from the SAI.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Indian sports fraternity, and it is clear that something needs to be done to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Lovlina’s bravery in speaking out against Col Malik’s behavior is a testament to her character and determination to stand up for what is right.
As the IOA inquiry gets underway, it is clear that Col Malik’s behavior will not be tolerated in the Indian sports community. The incident has sparked a much-needed conversation about the kind of environment that female athletes are expected to work in, and it is clear that we need to do better.
