Winter Olympics Kick Off Amidst Indian Selection Controversy
The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics have officially commenced across the picturesque towns of the Italian Alps, marking the start of a global sporting spectacle. Approximately 2,871 athletes from 92 nations are competing for 195 medals across 16 diverse winter disciplines. However, for India, the journey to these Games has been fraught with controversy and allegations of unfair practices.
Court Order Ignored as Top Skier Sits Out
India's number one cross-country skier, Manjeet Kumar, has been denied his maiden Winter Olympics appearance despite a favorable ruling from the Delhi High Court. The court had explicitly directed the sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to make "all reasonable efforts" to ensure the Army athlete could participate. This directive appears to have been overlooked, casting a shadow over India's Olympic preparations.
An ad-hoc committee established by the IOA has been managing governance and athlete selection while attempting to resolve long-standing administrative disputes affecting ski and snowboarding management in the country. This temporary arrangement has come under intense scrutiny following the exclusion of Manjeet Kumar.
India's Seven-Member Contingent and Selection Debate
India has fielded a seven-member contingent for the Winter Olympics, including two athletes: alpine skier Arif Khan and cross-country skier Stanzin Lundup. Amitabh Sharma, president of the Ice-Skating Association of India (ISAI), serves as the chef-de-mission. However, Lundup's selection has generated significant controversy and raised questions about transparency in the selection process.
The IOA and its ad-hoc body defended Lundup's inclusion by citing multiple factors:
- His name was part of the original long list of entries submitted in September 2025
- The International Olympic Committee refused to extend the entry deadline
- The International Ski Federation declined to add any new athlete names
- Lundup met selection criteria by participating in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway
Manjeet Kumar's Detailed Rebuttal
In an exclusive conversation, Manjeet Kumar presented a point-by-point rebuttal of the IOA's defense. According to available rankings, Manjeet is India's top-ranked cross-country skier globally, followed by Shubam Parihar, Padma Namgail, and then Stanzin Lundup.
"The ministry, IOA and its ad-hoc panel need to answer why my name was originally excluded from the long list submitted in September 2025," Manjeet questioned. "Why wasn't my name considered when the final athlete list was forwarded to organizers? Instead, it was sent to FIS, which rejected my late entry."
He further clarified that while Lundup secured a quota place at the Ski World Championships, international rules stipulate that quotas belong to the country, not the individual athlete.
Official Responses and Funding Arrangements
Speaking from Bormio, one of the Olympic venues, Chef-de-Mission Amitabh Sharma stated, "The IOA made the final selection. I don't have much to say about this matter. I am here to look after the well-being of our athletes."
Interestingly, the sports ministry cleared the contingent—comprising two athletes, one chef-de-mission, and four team officials—at 'no cost to the government.' Typically, for major multisport events, the ministry bears the entire contingent's expenses. In this instance, while organizers covered athlete costs, the IOA funded the travel of the chef-de-mission and officials.
This unusual arrangement stems from the ministry's non-recognition of Winter Games associations as National Sports Federations. While the Ice Hockey Federation of India holds 'National Sports Promotion Organisation' status, the ISAI lacks any such recognition. For ski and snowboarding affairs, an IOA-run ad-hoc body remains in place.
India's Olympic Schedule and Logistical Challenges
Regarding India's competitive prospects, Sharma confirmed that Arif Khan will compete in the men's slalom event on February 16 at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. This marks Khan's second consecutive Winter Olympics appearance following Beijing 2022. He qualified through world rankings after earning the basic quota.
Stanzin Lundup will participate in cross-country skiing's men's 10 km freestyle event on February 13 in Lago di Tesero. India received one wildcard quota, which was offered to Lundup.
Sharma highlighted significant logistical challenges, noting, "Khan is stationed in Bormio and Lundup in Predazzo, creating two separate Indian contingents. Travel between venues takes 5-6 hours by road, depending on snowfall and weather conditions. This is by far the most spread-out Winter Olympics ever."
As the Winter Olympics progress, India's participation remains clouded by controversy, raising important questions about athlete selection processes, administrative transparency, and the future of winter sports in the country.
