Delhi High Court Directs Centre To Ask J&K Govt To Include 'Dragon Boat Racing' In Khelo India Water Sports Festival
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Government to ask the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to include “Dragon Boat Racing” as a competitive sport in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from August 21-23 at Dal Lake, Srinagar. Justice Sachin Datta observed that the sport is internationally codified with established rules and Khelo India's guidelines do...
The Delhi High Court has directed the Union Government to ask the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to include “Dragon Boat Racing” as a competitive sport in the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from August 21-23 at Dal Lake, Srinagar.
Justice Sachin Datta observed that the sport is internationally codified with established rules and Khelo India's guidelines do not exclude or obviate the possibility of emerging sports being included within its competitive calendar.
“The respondent no.1 is directed to pursue the matter with the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (host of the Khelo India Water Sports Festival, scheduled to be held from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025 at Dal Lake, Srinagar) for the inclusion of Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport in the said upcoming event. The same shall be subject to the petitioner providing complete logistical and technical support, including the provision of dragon boats, trained technical officials, selection camps, and all the requisite infrastructure, without causing any difficulty or inconvenience to the hosting State. The same shall also, necessarily, be subject to the approval/acquiescence of the UT of Jammu & Kashmir,” the Court said.
Justice Datta was dealing with a plea filed by Dragon Boat India and Traditional Sports Federation aggrieved by the exclusion of the sport from the Khelo India Water Sports Festival.
The Court noted that the Federation has been persistent in its attempts to include Dragon Boat Racing as a competitive sport in various domestic events, however, on successive occasions, it has ostensibly lost out on account of logistical reasons and 'time constraints'.
It further noted that Dragon Boat Racing is recognised as a competitive sport in various international sporting events and that the same was also included in the 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, China in 2023.
“While it is true that the petitioner is not a duly recognised NSF, even in the order dated 16.05.2025 passed by the MYAS, it was not denied that Dragon Boat Racing is an emerging sport with a growing international footprint. It is also a fact that recognition of a body as an NSF is a gradual and evolving process. The fact that the petitioner is not yet a recognized NSF as on date, does not impinge upon the necessity of promoting the concerned sport,” the Court said.
It added that Dragon Boat Racing is an independent sport with an international governing body, prescribed competition rules, and an international calendar and that it cannot be said to be under the aegis of any other recognized NSF.
The Court directed MYAS to vigorously follow up with the organizers or host J&K for inclusion of the sport in the Festival and to ensure that immediate steps be taken for the same.
“The MYAS is also directed to liase with the petitioner and the organisers (Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir). The above arrangement shall be only for the purpose of Khelo India Water Sports Festival scheduled to be held from 21.08.2025 to 23.08.2025, at Dal Lake, Srinagar and shall not create any equity or right in favour of the petitioner for the purpose of future recognition, and/or for 'grant in aid' or for any other purpose,” it directed.
Title: DRAGON BOAT INDIA AND TRADITIONAL SPORTS FEDERATION v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 976