Ministry forms ad-hoc panels for handball, karate

NEW DELHI: The sports ministry has placed handball and karate under the ad-hoc body rule, directing the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to run the day-to-day affairs of the federations and ensure fair, transparent selection of athletes for the Asian Games in Japan.In separate office orders for the two sports, the ministry noted that “internal disputes, factionalism, ongoing legal and administrative proceedings, multiplicity of claimants and absence of a unified national structure” have created confusion for sportspersons over which body is actually authorised to conduct events.

This, it said, is “jeopardising the participation of Indian players at national and international tournaments, thereby adversely affecting the prospects of the current and future athletes”.The All India Karate-Do Federation (AIKDF), Karate Association of India (KAI), Karate India Organisation (KIO), Karate India and the Karate Federation of India (TKFI) each claim to govern the sport. None is recognised by either the ministry or IOA. In handball, two bodies are in contention. The Handball Association of India (HAI), recognised by the international (IHF) and Asian (AHF) federations, and the Handball Federation of India (HFI), formed in July 2025.

Neither is affiliated with the ministry or IOA.