High Court Orders Probe Into Asian Games Surfing Selection Dispute

The High Court has stepped into a dispute surrounding the selection of Indian surfers for the men’s surfing competition at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The court has ordered a detailed investigation into allegations that established selection rules were not properly followed.

A single member inquiry commission headed by retired Supreme Court Justice R V Raveendran has been constituted to examine the matter. The commission will conduct its proceedings in Bengaluru and has been asked to look closely at the conduct of officials involved in the selection process.

The order came while hearing a petition filed by surfer Ramesh Boodihal, who challenged his exclusion from the main squad. The case was heard by a bench headed by Justice Suraj Govindaraj.

The court expressed strong displeasure over the way the selection process was handled by the Surfing Federation of India. During the proceedings, the federation reportedly acknowledged that its executive board did not have the authority to directly select athletes.

The dispute centres on a meeting held after a four member selection committee failed to reach a clear decision. The committee had reportedly split its votes equally between Ramesh Boodihal and Shivraj Babu, leaving the selection tied at two votes each.

Following the deadlock, the federation’s executive board stepped into the matter and used what was described as an executive call on June 23 to select Shivraj Babu. The High Court questioned this move and observed that the board had acted against its own rules by taking over a decision that belonged to the selection process.

Despite its concerns, the court did not cancel the final selection list. The bench noted that making a last minute change could potentially affect India’s participation in the Asian Games because the deadline for submitting the team to the Indian Olympic Association was approaching.

The inquiry will now examine more than just the individual selection dispute. The commission has been asked to review the conduct of members of the federation’s executive board and selection committee, examine whether the applicable rules were violated and suggest improvements that could make future athlete selections more transparent.

The commission has been directed to submit its report by the end of February 2027. The entire cost of the inquiry will be borne by the Surfing Federation of India.

The controversy gained attention after Ramesh Boodihal was left out of the main Asian Games squad despite his recent performance. The 25 year old surfer had won India’s only medal, a bronze, at the 2025 Asian Surfing Championship.

Instead of being included in the main team, Boodihal was placed among the reserve athletes. He subsequently approached the federation’s appellate committee, challenging the selection decision.

The appellate committee partially accepted his complaint and directed that a fresh selection process be carried out. It also called for athletes’ performances from January 1, 2025 onwards to be considered, with particular importance given to achievements such as medals at the Asian Championship.

A four member selection committee met on June 20 and 21 to reassess the candidates. However, differences emerged over the evaluation method, and the committee eventually ended up with a two two split between Boodihal and Shivraj Babu.

With June 26 set as the deadline for submitting the team list to the Indian Olympic Association, the federation’s executive board took the controversial step of making the final choice itself two days earlier.

Boodihal then moved the High Court, questioning the procedure followed by the federation. His petition brought the selection process under judicial scrutiny and resulted in the court ordering a wider investigation.

The inquiry is now expected to examine how the selection rules were interpreted and applied, while also looking at the responsibilities of the federation’s office bearers and selection committee members. The court’s decision to retain the current list means India’s Asian Games participation will not be disrupted while the investigation continues.

The case could also have implications beyond the upcoming competition. By asking the inquiry commission to recommend reforms, the High Court has placed the focus on creating a more consistent and transparent system for selecting athletes in future international events.

The Asian Games surfing competition is scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4. For now, the existing selection list remains in place, while the inquiry will determine whether the selection process complied with the federation’s own rules and what changes may be needed going forward.