Massive Protests Shake India Taekwondo: Corruption Allegations Target Federation President

NEW DELHI – The governance of India Taekwondo, the national body recognized by World Taekwondo (WT), faces an unprecedented crisis. Hundreds of athletes, coaches, and regional leaders have taken to the streets demanding transparency, accountability, and above all, the removal of President Namdev Shirgaonkar, who is accused of leading the federation through unconstitutional practices and financial mismanagement.

Hunger Strike Marks Peak of Demonstrations

The conflict escalated today with a mass hunger strike organized by several state associations, including the Odisha Taekwondo Association, which publicly denounced what they describe as the “unconstitutional formation” of India Taekwondo. Protesters allege the misuse of millions of rupees, irregularities in event funding, and a lack of accountability.

“This isn’t just about corruption – it’s about the future of our athletes,” stated one of the organizers in a press release circulated on social media, highlighting how the federation’s dysfunction directly harms grassroots development and the careers of young practitioners.

Context: An Ad-Hoc Body That Never Dissolved

India Taekwondo was created in 2018 as a temporary ad-hoc body under the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and World Taekwondo (WT), meant to function only until fresh elections were held in the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI).
However, despite TFI elections being completed in 2023, the ad-hoc body was never dissolved. According to IOA President PT Usha and the IOA Ethics Commission, India Taekwondo operates without legal registration, financial audits, or democratic elections, in clear violation of IOA and WT rules.

Critics further allege that Shirgaonkar has misused the IOA name and logo, issued invalid athlete certificates, and excluded legitimate state associations. These irregularities could trigger disciplinary sanctions, criminal proceedings, and even the invalidation of official results issued under his leadership.

A Pattern of Scandals

The protests also build on a turbulent year for Indian taekwondo. In February 2025, allegations of selling medals at the National Games in Uttarakhand shocked the community. Indian media such as The Times of India and The Indian Express reported that federation officials were accused of charging up to three lakhs of rupees (approximately USD 3,500) for a gold medal, which led to the temporary removal of competition director T. Praveen Kumar by the IOA. Although the Delhi High Court later reinstated him citing insufficient evidence, the scandal eroded public trust in the sport’s governance.

Further controversy erupted in March, when a female athlete accused federation officials, including vice president Pradeep Janardhanan, of sexual harassment and abuse of power. Although investigative committees were formed, critics dismissed them as superficial, fueling perceptions of entrenched impunity.

Calls for Structural Change

Protesters now demand the dissolution of the current board and fresh elections supervised by neutral institutions such as the IOA. They argue that India Taekwondo’s governance undermines the credibility of the sport in one of the world’s largest markets for martial arts.

Despite the escalating crisis, India Taekwondo has not yet issued an official statement addressing the protests.

International Implications

The situation is not only a domestic issue. Sources suggest that World Taekwondo has been informally alerted about the protests, raising the possibility of global scrutiny. If unresolved, India risks missing opportunities to strengthen its presence in continental and world events, while young athletes may abandon the sport due to disillusionment with its leadership.

In a discipline founded on respect, integrity, and self-control, the allegations strike at the very heart of taekwondo’s values. Whether India Taekwondo can overcome this storm and rebuild trust will determine not only the federation’s survival, but also the country’s long-term prospects in the global taekwondo community.