Boxers evicted mid-tournament and left in the cold, chaos hits national boxing meet

The National Boxing Championships , currently underway in Greater Noida , have become the latest reminder of how athletes from non cricket sports continue to struggle for basic dignity in India. Boxers, coaches, and officials from several states were asked to vacate their allotted accommodation midway through the tournament, triggering outrage and once again exposing the deep rooted neglect faced by athletes outside cricket.

Teams from Chhattisgarh , Karnataka , Kerala , Telangana , Andhra Pradesh , Manipur , and Tamil Nadu were among those affected. Officials said they were informed that room bookings had not been confirmed for the final days of the championship. In some cases, when teams returned from the competition venue, their belongings had already been packed and moved to the reception without notice.

Photographs of boxers and coaches standing outside late at night in sub ten degree temperatures circulated widely within the sporting community, drawing sharp criticism. Coaches alleged there were no locks in the rooms and no clarity from the organisers. Repeated attempts to contact event officials reportedly went unanswered.

The responsibility squarely lies with the organisers and event managers, who failed to ensure even the most basic arrangements despite the tournament prospectus clearly stating that free lodging and boarding would be provided to all participants and officials.

The Boxing Federation of India said it stepped in after being informed of the incident. The federation claimed that immediate arrangements were made to shift affected athletes to the nearest facility at GB University , where temporary sleeping arrangements were provided for the night. While the intervention offered short term relief, it did little to address the larger questions of planning and accountability.

This incident is not an isolated one. It reflects the harsh truth of Indian sports administration. Except for cricket , almost every other sport struggles for sponsorship, infrastructure, planning, and respect. From boxers being asked to vacate rooms mid tournament to athletes travelling in overcrowded general compartments of trains, often seen in viral videos, the lack of safety and dignity for sportspersons has become routine.

Even Indian football recently faced turmoil, with players themselves appealing to FIFA over uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League. The pattern is clear. Cricket enjoys premium treatment, corporate backing, and seamless logistics, while athletes from other sports fight simply to participate.

For many athletes, the journey ends not with medals but with exhaustion and disillusionment. Either the athlete is forced to leave the sport, or the sport abandons the athlete. The accommodation crisis at the National Boxing Championships is not just a logistical failure. It is a stark reflection of how India continues to treat its sporting talent beyond cricket.