Indian Golfers Face Selection Turmoil Amid Federation Dispute
India's top golfers find themselves in a difficult position. Leading players like Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Ajeetesh Sandhu, Aditi Ashok, and Diksha Dagar are now caught in a bitter power struggle. The conflict involves two warring factions within the national golf federation. Both groups claim the authority to select and send athletes to the upcoming Asian Games.
Two Factions, One Federation
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) is currently split into two opposing camps. One faction receives official recognition from the Sports Ministry and the International Golf Federation (IGF). This group is led by Brijender Singh. The other faction holds affiliation with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Harish Shetty leads this body.
This division became starkly clear on December 15, 2024. Both factions held separate Annual General Meetings and elections in Delhi on the same day. This action created a major conflict between the Sports Ministry and the IOA. Each side now operates as if it were the sole legitimate authority for golf administration in India.
The Asian Games Entry Controversy
The dispute has directly impacted the selection process for the 2026 Asian Games. The event is scheduled to take place in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
Facing a January 15th deadline to submit a preliminary long list of athletes, the Shetty-led faction sent names to the IOA. They forwarded a list of nine male and eight female professional golfers. The IOA accepted these entries. The selection reportedly included top Indian players based on their Official World Golf Ranking positions.
The Singh-led faction reacted with strong opposition. Maj Gen (retd) Bibhuti Bhushan, the Director General of this recognized IGU body, issued a sharp statement. He condemned the IOA's engagement with the rival group as "illegal, invalid, and untenable." The faction threatened legal action to protect what it calls the integrity of golf administration in the country.
Warnings to Players and Conflicting Claims
The recognized IGU faction took an additional step. They sent a formal letter to the golfers themselves. The letter warned players that dealing with the unauthorized faction could put their careers at significant risk. It advised athletes to ignore any communication about selection trials or camps from any entity other than the officially recognized IGU office.
When questioned, the Shetty-led group defended its actions. An official stated that the IOA specifically asked them to send the names, as they are the body recognized by the Olympic committee. They emphasized that the entries would proceed through the proper IOA channels.
The IOA clarified its position. An official explained that, as the National Olympic Committee (NOC), the IOA holds the sole right to send athlete names for multi-sport events like the Asian Games. The official acknowledged the "unique situation" in golf, where one body is recognized by the ministry and another by the IOA. However, the IOA stated it would forward the names received from its affiliated group, citing the Asian Games rulebook which mandates entries come through the respective NOCs.
The Athletes in the Middle
The long list of golfers submitted includes prominent names. For the men, the list features Yuvraj Sandhu, Veer Ahlawat, Shubhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Rayhan Thomas, Shaurya Bhattacharya, Angad Cheema, Ajeetesh Sandhu, and Saptak Talwar. The women's list includes Aditi Ashok, Pranavi Urs, Diksha Dagar, Avani Prasanth, Hitaashee Bakshi, Vani Kapoor, Tvesa Malik, and Ridhima Dilawari.
These athletes now await a resolution. The administrative clash creates uncertainty over their official selection and preparation for a major international competition. The situation highlights the broader challenges within sports governance when parallel authorities claim legitimacy.
