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NFL Draft’s 10 biggest busts in history It’s time to dive into a list nobody wants to see their team on. An NFL Draft bust can happen due to a variety of factors: Sometimes it’s completely botching the process and selecting a player with mammoth red flags, perhaps it’s due to drafting out of desperation which leads to a wasted pick, or on occasion you might take the right player, but select them at the wrong time for a franchise — causing them to bust for one team, then have success elsewhere due to a better fit.For a draft bust to be truly legendary, there needs to be a mixture of high stakes and the lowest possible return. It also helps if by selecting the player your team missed out on a generational, transformative talent. There will be no shortage of these stories on the list either.No. 10: Charles Rodgers, WR — No. 2 overall, Detroit Lions (2003)Everything pointed to Charles Rodgers being an absolute stud in the NFL, and being College Football’s top receiver from Michigan State, going to the Lions — well, it felt like a dream. Instead everything turned into a nightmare, with Rodgers breaking his clavicle during his rookie year which began a downward spiral.Allowed to leave the team to rehab from his injury, demons from Rodgers’ past swallowed him whole. Off-field concerns prior to the draft dominated the rest of his short-lived NFL career, as Rodgers was suspended three times for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy in two years. He was cut in 2006 giving the Lions 440 total receiving yards.The player taken one spot after him: Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.No. 9: Trey Lance, QB — No. 3 overall, San Francisco 49ers (2021)To this day I refuse to believe the 49ers traded up with the intention of taking Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft. I think something happened in that draft room where a contingent of people wanted Mac Jones, with another side saying that Jones was too low ceiling and they had to roll the dice on Lance.Nothing about Trey Lance’s skillset upon entering the NFL said he was going to be a good Kyle Shanahan quarterback. A big-arm, small school improviser who needed a couple of seasons to learn the NFL game didn’t vibe with the “win now” mode the Niners were in when they looked for a QB upgrade. Of course they totally got bailed out by finding Brock Purdy, but that doesn’t change what a monumental bust taking Trey Lance was.San Francisco gave up No. 12, a 1st in 2o22, a 3rd in 2022, and a 1st in 2023 to move up and get Lance, who was later sent away for a 4th round pick two years later.No. 8: Ki-Jana Carter, RB — No.1 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)It’s not often you have a draft pick who was so bad that they threw shade on an entire football program, but Ki-Jana Carter is a huge part of the Penn State NFL Draft stigma that lasted the better part of two decades. An absolute phenom for the Nittany Lions, Carter turned into a pumpkin the second he arrived in the NFL — going from amassing over 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns on 7.8 yards-per-carry, to getting hurt, then taking four years to reach 700 rushing yards.Four Hall of Fame players were taken after Carter in the first round of 1995 (Tony Boselli, Warren Sapp, Ty Law, and Derrick Brooks). The team also passed on Steve McNair and Joey Galloway. It was a legendarily bad pick that kept Penn State away from the top pick for YEARS and turned the school into a meme.No. 7: Rich Campbell, QB — No. 6 overall, Green Bay Packers (1981)It was a different world when it came to picking quarterbacks back in 1981. In short: Nobody had any idea what the hell they were doing. The Packers took Campbell with the No. 6 overall pick, and the coaching staff hated him. Despite being a successful QB at Cal, it became immediately clear that Campbell didn’t have the arm strength to be an NFL quarterback and was extremely limited in the pocket.Campbell did not start a SINGLE GAME for the Packers. In four years he only appeared seven times, and logged 386 yards passing, 3 TDs and 9 INTs on his resume.No. 6: Ryan Leaf, QB — No. 2 overall, San Diego Chargers (1998)A lot of great bust lists will have Ryan Leaf near the top, but I’m here to explain why he’s simply not the absolute WORST. Leaf is given hell because of what he’s not: Namely Peyton Manning, who was taken one pick earlier. While there’s no doubt Leaf was a bust, he’s still not close to the worst QB on this list — as we’ll get to in a little bit.Leaf was abysmal in his rookie season, then got hurt, and we never saw what he could have done in the league. The size, timing, and arm were there — he just went to the wrong place, at the wrong time, and being compared to Peyton Manning made for impossible levels of pressure.No. 5: Tony Mandarich, OT — No. 2 overall, Green Bay Packers (1989)What happens when your entire college resume is fake? This list is littered with missed evaluations, but the Packers truly had no way of knowing that Tony Mandarich was one of the biggest fakes in draft history.Mandarich made a career for himself at Michigan State by completely obliterating everyone in his path. It looked like a God playing against mortals, and that was because Mandarich was on an immense amount of steroids for his entire college career. He had to quit his cheating regimen upon entering the NFL due to fears of getting caught, and it became immediately apparent that Mandarich had almost no skills to play professional football.What makes this pick hurt so, so much more is that immediately after Mandarich we had three of the greatest NFL players of all time picked immediately after him: Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders.No. 4: Akili Smith, QB — No. 3 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1999)This is what happens when desperation for a position takes over the draft process entirely. Akili Smith had really good final season at Oregon, but he was still the third-best QB prospect in 1999 behind Tim Couch (lol) and Donovan McNabb. Smith was ass from the second he stepped on the field. There were physical traits, but he had no work ethic, and was entirely engineered to be a high draft pick, not a successful NFL player.Akili Smith was difficult to coach, couldn’t read the field, made bad decisions, and had horrible accuracy. There was essentially nothing he did well, and it hurts so, so much more with the information that Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints offered the Bengals NINE DRAFT PICKS to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 so they could get Ricky Williams.The Bengals were so sold on Smith that they gave up two years of compensation for him, and he provided them with nothing.No. 3: Robert Gallery, OT — No. 2 overall, Oakland Raiders (2004)Robert Gallery is fairly unique on this list that everyone thought this was a home run pick. Gallery was a completely dominant 6-7, 325 tackle with ideal size, great technique, and a pedigree at Iowa that seemed to indicate that he could compete against top talent.When he hit the league, everything just went up in smoke. Gallery struggled against speed rushers, which were in favor league-wide, and couldn’t handle any NFL pass rush moves off the edge. He had limited success after being moved inside to guard, but that never made up for the bust he was.There’s an alternate multiverse where the Raiders take Philip Rivers at No. 2 and avoid making the biggest bust in NFL history, who we’ll talk about in a moment.No. 2: Art Schlichter, QB — No. 4 overall, Baltimore Colts (1982)Here’s someone you rarely ever see mentioned in bust lists, but hoo boy does Art Schlichter belong.We’ve established that QB evaluation in the early 1980s was already bad, but Schlichter was on a whole other level. He was overblown because of an Ohio State offense engineered specifically to his skills and was utterly unable to pivot to learning a new offense. When he arrived at Colts camp Schlichter was out of shape, he had a bad work ethic, and despite being the No. 4 overall pick he lost the starting job to Colts 4th round pick at QB Mike Pagel.Schlichter blew his entire rookie salary on gambling, falling deep into addiction, betting on basketball. He was out of the league in four years with 3 TDs and 11 INTs — with just over 1,000 yards passing and 45% completion.No. 1: Jamarcus Russell, QB — No. 1 overall, Oakland Raiders (2007)Then there was one. Statistically there have been much worse quarterbacks, but by 2007 teams should have had a better idea how to evaluate quarterbacks. Russell had red flags all over him, yet Oakland felt the need to take him because of his physical skillset and desperation at quarterback.Russell was a bad worker, he didn’t study enough and was a liability every time he was on the field. This was made so much worse by the fact that Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas were taken right after Russell.There are so many pivot points that can change a team’s future, but if we just look at the picks the Raiders ended up making they could have had Philip Rivers in 2004, and Joe Thomas in 2007. Instead they got Gallery and Russell. #NFL #Drafts #biggest #busts #history

NFL Draft’s 10 biggest busts in history

It’s time to dive into a list nobody wants to see their team on. An NFL Draft bust can happen due to a variety of factors: Sometimes it’s completely botching the process and selecting a player with mammoth red flags, perhaps it’s due to drafting out of desperation which leads to a wasted pick, or on occasion you might take the right player, but select them at the wrong time for a franchise — causing them to bust for one team, then have success elsewhere due to a better fit.

For a draft bust to be truly legendary, there needs to be a mixture of high stakes and the lowest possible return. It also helps if by selecting the player your team missed out on a generational, transformative talent. There will be no shortage of these stories on the list either.

No. 10: Charles Rodgers, WR — No. 2 overall, Detroit Lions (2003)

Everything pointed to Charles Rodgers being an absolute stud in the NFL, and being College Football’s top receiver from Michigan State, going to the Lions — well, it felt like a dream. Instead everything turned into a nightmare, with Rodgers breaking his clavicle during his rookie year which began a downward spiral.

Allowed to leave the team to rehab from his injury, demons from Rodgers’ past swallowed him whole. Off-field concerns prior to the draft dominated the rest of his short-lived NFL career, as Rodgers was suspended three times for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy in two years. He was cut in 2006 giving the Lions 440 total receiving yards.

The player taken one spot after him: Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.

No. 9: Trey Lance, QB — No. 3 overall, San Francisco 49ers (2021)

To this day I refuse to believe the 49ers traded up with the intention of taking Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft. I think something happened in that draft room where a contingent of people wanted Mac Jones, with another side saying that Jones was too low ceiling and they had to roll the dice on Lance.

Nothing about Trey Lance’s skillset upon entering the NFL said he was going to be a good Kyle Shanahan quarterback. A big-arm, small school improviser who needed a couple of seasons to learn the NFL game didn’t vibe with the “win now” mode the Niners were in when they looked for a QB upgrade. Of course they totally got bailed out by finding Brock Purdy, but that doesn’t change what a monumental bust taking Trey Lance was.

San Francisco gave up No. 12, a 1st in 2o22, a 3rd in 2022, and a 1st in 2023 to move up and get Lance, who was later sent away for a 4th round pick two years later.

No. 8: Ki-Jana Carter, RB — No.1 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)

It’s not often you have a draft pick who was so bad that they threw shade on an entire football program, but Ki-Jana Carter is a huge part of the Penn State NFL Draft stigma that lasted the better part of two decades. An absolute phenom for the Nittany Lions, Carter turned into a pumpkin the second he arrived in the NFL — going from amassing over 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns on 7.8 yards-per-carry, to getting hurt, then taking four years to reach 700 rushing yards.

Four Hall of Fame players were taken after Carter in the first round of 1995 (Tony Boselli, Warren Sapp, Ty Law, and Derrick Brooks). The team also passed on Steve McNair and Joey Galloway. It was a legendarily bad pick that kept Penn State away from the top pick for YEARS and turned the school into a meme.

No. 7: Rich Campbell, QB — No. 6 overall, Green Bay Packers (1981)

It was a different world when it came to picking quarterbacks back in 1981. In short: Nobody had any idea what the hell they were doing. The Packers took Campbell with the No. 6 overall pick, and the coaching staff hated him. Despite being a successful QB at Cal, it became immediately clear that Campbell didn’t have the arm strength to be an NFL quarterback and was extremely limited in the pocket.

Campbell did not start a SINGLE GAME for the Packers. In four years he only appeared seven times, and logged 386 yards passing, 3 TDs and 9 INTs on his resume.

No. 6: Ryan Leaf, QB — No. 2 overall, San Diego Chargers (1998)

A lot of great bust lists will have Ryan Leaf near the top, but I’m here to explain why he’s simply not the absolute WORST. Leaf is given hell because of what he’s not: Namely Peyton Manning, who was taken one pick earlier. While there’s no doubt Leaf was a bust, he’s still not close to the worst QB on this list — as we’ll get to in a little bit.

Leaf was abysmal in his rookie season, then got hurt, and we never saw what he could have done in the league. The size, timing, and arm were there — he just went to the wrong place, at the wrong time, and being compared to Peyton Manning made for impossible levels of pressure.

No. 5: Tony Mandarich, OT — No. 2 overall, Green Bay Packers (1989)

What happens when your entire college resume is fake? This list is littered with missed evaluations, but the Packers truly had no way of knowing that Tony Mandarich was one of the biggest fakes in draft history.

Mandarich made a career for himself at Michigan State by completely obliterating everyone in his path. It looked like a God playing against mortals, and that was because Mandarich was on an immense amount of steroids for his entire college career. He had to quit his cheating regimen upon entering the NFL due to fears of getting caught, and it became immediately apparent that Mandarich had almost no skills to play professional football.

What makes this pick hurt so, so much more is that immediately after Mandarich we had three of the greatest NFL players of all time picked immediately after him: Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders.

No. 4: Akili Smith, QB — No. 3 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1999)

This is what happens when desperation for a position takes over the draft process entirely. Akili Smith had really good final season at Oregon, but he was still the third-best QB prospect in 1999 behind Tim Couch (lol) and Donovan McNabb. Smith was ass from the second he stepped on the field. There were physical traits, but he had no work ethic, and was entirely engineered to be a high draft pick, not a successful NFL player.

Akili Smith was difficult to coach, couldn’t read the field, made bad decisions, and had horrible accuracy. There was essentially nothing he did well, and it hurts so, so much more with the information that Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints offered the Bengals NINE DRAFT PICKS to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 so they could get Ricky Williams.

The Bengals were so sold on Smith that they gave up two years of compensation for him, and he provided them with nothing.

No. 3: Robert Gallery, OT — No. 2 overall, Oakland Raiders (2004)

Robert Gallery is fairly unique on this list that everyone thought this was a home run pick. Gallery was a completely dominant 6-7, 325 tackle with ideal size, great technique, and a pedigree at Iowa that seemed to indicate that he could compete against top talent.

When he hit the league, everything just went up in smoke. Gallery struggled against speed rushers, which were in favor league-wide, and couldn’t handle any NFL pass rush moves off the edge. He had limited success after being moved inside to guard, but that never made up for the bust he was.

There’s an alternate multiverse where the Raiders take Philip Rivers at No. 2 and avoid making the biggest bust in NFL history, who we’ll talk about in a moment.

No. 2: Art Schlichter, QB — No. 4 overall, Baltimore Colts (1982)

Here’s someone you rarely ever see mentioned in bust lists, but hoo boy does Art Schlichter belong.

We’ve established that QB evaluation in the early 1980s was already bad, but Schlichter was on a whole other level. He was overblown because of an Ohio State offense engineered specifically to his skills and was utterly unable to pivot to learning a new offense. When he arrived at Colts camp Schlichter was out of shape, he had a bad work ethic, and despite being the No. 4 overall pick he lost the starting job to Colts 4th round pick at QB Mike Pagel.

Schlichter blew his entire rookie salary on gambling, falling deep into addiction, betting on basketball. He was out of the league in four years with 3 TDs and 11 INTs — with just over 1,000 yards passing and 45% completion.

No. 1: Jamarcus Russell, QB — No. 1 overall, Oakland Raiders (2007)

Then there was one. Statistically there have been much worse quarterbacks, but by 2007 teams should have had a better idea how to evaluate quarterbacks. Russell had red flags all over him, yet Oakland felt the need to take him because of his physical skillset and desperation at quarterback.

Russell was a bad worker, he didn’t study enough and was a liability every time he was on the field. This was made so much worse by the fact that Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas were taken right after Russell.

There are so many pivot points that can change a team’s future, but if we just look at the picks the Raiders ended up making they could have had Philip Rivers in 2004, and Joe Thomas in 2007. Instead they got Gallery and Russell.

#NFL #Drafts #biggest #busts #history

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It’s time to dive into a list nobody wants to see their team on. An NFL Draft bust can happen due to a variety of factors: Sometimes it’s completely botching the process and selecting a player with mammoth red flags, perhaps it’s due to drafting out of desperation which leads to a wasted pick, or on occasion you might take the right player, but select them at the wrong time for a franchise — causing them to bust for one team, then have success elsewhere due to a better fit.

For a draft bust to be truly legendary, there needs to be a mixture of high stakes and the lowest possible return. It also helps if by selecting the player your team missed out on a generational, transformative talent. There will be no shortage of these stories on the list either.

No. 10: Charles Rodgers, WR — No. 2 overall, Detroit Lions (2003)

Everything pointed to Charles Rodgers being an absolute stud in the NFL, and being College Football’s top receiver from Michigan State, going to the Lions — well, it felt like a dream. Instead everything turned into a nightmare, with Rodgers breaking his clavicle during his rookie year which began a downward spiral.

Allowed to leave the team to rehab from his injury, demons from Rodgers’ past swallowed him whole. Off-field concerns prior to the draft dominated the rest of his short-lived NFL career, as Rodgers was suspended three times for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy in two years. He was cut in 2006 giving the Lions 440 total receiving yards.

The player taken one spot after him: Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson.

No. 9: Trey Lance, QB — No. 3 overall, San Francisco 49ers (2021)

To this day I refuse to believe the 49ers traded up with the intention of taking Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft. I think something happened in that draft room where a contingent of people wanted Mac Jones, with another side saying that Jones was too low ceiling and they had to roll the dice on Lance.

Nothing about Trey Lance’s skillset upon entering the NFL said he was going to be a good Kyle Shanahan quarterback. A big-arm, small school improviser who needed a couple of seasons to learn the NFL game didn’t vibe with the “win now” mode the Niners were in when they looked for a QB upgrade. Of course they totally got bailed out by finding Brock Purdy, but that doesn’t change what a monumental bust taking Trey Lance was.

San Francisco gave up No. 12, a 1st in 2o22, a 3rd in 2022, and a 1st in 2023 to move up and get Lance, who was later sent away for a 4th round pick two years later.

No. 8: Ki-Jana Carter, RB — No.1 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1995)

It’s not often you have a draft pick who was so bad that they threw shade on an entire football program, but Ki-Jana Carter is a huge part of the Penn State NFL Draft stigma that lasted the better part of two decades. An absolute phenom for the Nittany Lions, Carter turned into a pumpkin the second he arrived in the NFL — going from amassing over 1,500 yards and 23 touchdowns on 7.8 yards-per-carry, to getting hurt, then taking four years to reach 700 rushing yards.

Four Hall of Fame players were taken after Carter in the first round of 1995 (Tony Boselli, Warren Sapp, Ty Law, and Derrick Brooks). The team also passed on Steve McNair and Joey Galloway. It was a legendarily bad pick that kept Penn State away from the top pick for YEARS and turned the school into a meme.

No. 7: Rich Campbell, QB — No. 6 overall, Green Bay Packers (1981)

It was a different world when it came to picking quarterbacks back in 1981. In short: Nobody had any idea what the hell they were doing. The Packers took Campbell with the No. 6 overall pick, and the coaching staff hated him. Despite being a successful QB at Cal, it became immediately clear that Campbell didn’t have the arm strength to be an NFL quarterback and was extremely limited in the pocket.

Campbell did not start a SINGLE GAME for the Packers. In four years he only appeared seven times, and logged 386 yards passing, 3 TDs and 9 INTs on his resume.

No. 6: Ryan Leaf, QB — No. 2 overall, San Diego Chargers (1998)

A lot of great bust lists will have Ryan Leaf near the top, but I’m here to explain why he’s simply not the absolute WORST. Leaf is given hell because of what he’s not: Namely Peyton Manning, who was taken one pick earlier. While there’s no doubt Leaf was a bust, he’s still not close to the worst QB on this list — as we’ll get to in a little bit.

Leaf was abysmal in his rookie season, then got hurt, and we never saw what he could have done in the league. The size, timing, and arm were there — he just went to the wrong place, at the wrong time, and being compared to Peyton Manning made for impossible levels of pressure.

No. 5: Tony Mandarich, OT — No. 2 overall, Green Bay Packers (1989)

What happens when your entire college resume is fake? This list is littered with missed evaluations, but the Packers truly had no way of knowing that Tony Mandarich was one of the biggest fakes in draft history.

Mandarich made a career for himself at Michigan State by completely obliterating everyone in his path. It looked like a God playing against mortals, and that was because Mandarich was on an immense amount of steroids for his entire college career. He had to quit his cheating regimen upon entering the NFL due to fears of getting caught, and it became immediately apparent that Mandarich had almost no skills to play professional football.

What makes this pick hurt so, so much more is that immediately after Mandarich we had three of the greatest NFL players of all time picked immediately after him: Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders.

No. 4: Akili Smith, QB — No. 3 overall, Cincinnati Bengals (1999)

This is what happens when desperation for a position takes over the draft process entirely. Akili Smith had really good final season at Oregon, but he was still the third-best QB prospect in 1999 behind Tim Couch (lol) and Donovan McNabb. Smith was ass from the second he stepped on the field. There were physical traits, but he had no work ethic, and was entirely engineered to be a high draft pick, not a successful NFL player.

Akili Smith was difficult to coach, couldn’t read the field, made bad decisions, and had horrible accuracy. There was essentially nothing he did well, and it hurts so, so much more with the information that Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints offered the Bengals NINE DRAFT PICKS to move up from No. 12 to No. 3 so they could get Ricky Williams.

The Bengals were so sold on Smith that they gave up two years of compensation for him, and he provided them with nothing.

No. 3: Robert Gallery, OT — No. 2 overall, Oakland Raiders (2004)

Robert Gallery is fairly unique on this list that everyone thought this was a home run pick. Gallery was a completely dominant 6-7, 325 tackle with ideal size, great technique, and a pedigree at Iowa that seemed to indicate that he could compete against top talent.

When he hit the league, everything just went up in smoke. Gallery struggled against speed rushers, which were in favor league-wide, and couldn’t handle any NFL pass rush moves off the edge. He had limited success after being moved inside to guard, but that never made up for the bust he was.

There’s an alternate multiverse where the Raiders take Philip Rivers at No. 2 and avoid making the biggest bust in NFL history, who we’ll talk about in a moment.

No. 2: Art Schlichter, QB — No. 4 overall, Baltimore Colts (1982)

Here’s someone you rarely ever see mentioned in bust lists, but hoo boy does Art Schlichter belong.

We’ve established that QB evaluation in the early 1980s was already bad, but Schlichter was on a whole other level. He was overblown because of an Ohio State offense engineered specifically to his skills and was utterly unable to pivot to learning a new offense. When he arrived at Colts camp Schlichter was out of shape, he had a bad work ethic, and despite being the No. 4 overall pick he lost the starting job to Colts 4th round pick at QB Mike Pagel.

Schlichter blew his entire rookie salary on gambling, falling deep into addiction, betting on basketball. He was out of the league in four years with 3 TDs and 11 INTs — with just over 1,000 yards passing and 45% completion.

No. 1: Jamarcus Russell, QB — No. 1 overall, Oakland Raiders (2007)

Then there was one. Statistically there have been much worse quarterbacks, but by 2007 teams should have had a better idea how to evaluate quarterbacks. Russell had red flags all over him, yet Oakland felt the need to take him because of his physical skillset and desperation at quarterback.

Russell was a bad worker, he didn’t study enough and was a liability every time he was on the field. This was made so much worse by the fact that Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas were taken right after Russell.

There are so many pivot points that can change a team’s future, but if we just look at the picks the Raiders ended up making they could have had Philip Rivers in 2004, and Joe Thomas in 2007. Instead they got Gallery and Russell.

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Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.

Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.

Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.

Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive">IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of seasonChanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 drawThe side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive">IFL 2025-26: Chanmari thrashes Namdhari to keep top-six hopes alive

Chanmari FC completed a dominant performance with a 4-1 win against Namdhari FC, to keep its hopes alive for a top six spot in the Indian Football League 2025-26 at the Namdhari Football Stadium in Sri Bhaini Sahib on Friday.

Chanmari took the lead in the fourth minute through Pepe, who was making his first start of the season, and then doubled its advantage in the second half through Christopher Kamei. Lalruatsanga scored the third in the 58th minute before Adersh Mattummal pulled one back three minutes later. Lalthangliana added the fourth for the visitor to seal the match.

Chanmari FC has moved temporarily to fifth in the table with 11 points and a goal difference of -1, and will rely on the results of other matches to confirm its place in the top six. Meanwhile, Namdhari, in ninth place with seven points, has confirmed their place in the relegation zone.

Chanmari stunned Namdhari with an early breakthrough in just the fourth minute. Marlon Rangel launched a simple long ball from defence into space, picking out the run of Pepe. The midfielder outpaced two defenders, controlled the ball well, and calmly slotted it through the legs of the onrushing goalkeeper.

The Brazilian was once again at the heart of the action moments later and could have doubled Chanmari’s lead. Jota made a fine run down the left, but his cross initially failed to find a teammate inside the box. The ball was recycled by Lalthangliana, who delivered a low cross into the path of Pepe, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

ALSO READ | Chennaiyin FC battles past Sporting Club Delhi for first home win of season

Chanmari looked lively whenever they went forward, with wingers Jota and Lalthangliana troubling the opposition defence with their pace. The latter missed a good opportunity midway through the half, heading over the bar after Marlon Rangel’s initial effort had been saved by goalkeeper Niraj Kumar.

Namdhari, on the other hand, relied on long-range efforts as they struggled to break down Chanmari’s defence. Najib Ibrahim came close with one such attempt, and around the half-hour mark, Manvir Singh, who has already scored twice from the centre circle this season, tried another audacious effort from midfield, which sailed just over the crossbar, leaving Zothanmawia scrambling in goal.

The visitor controlled the midfield, with Namdhari showing little urgency to win back possession as Chanmari carried its one-goal lead into the break.

The visitor doubled its advantage in the fourth minute of the restart. Christopher Kamei received the ball on the right wing, and his attempted cross looped over the goalkeeper’s head, struck the post, and nestled in the back of the net.

ALSO READ | Mohammedan SC secures first point of season after holding Odisha FC to 1-1 draw

The side from Aizawl then scored its third goal with a well-taken finish just before the hour mark. Left-back Malsawmtluanga played a well-timed pass into the path of Lalruatsanga, who had made a clever run behind the defence. The striker, from an acute angle, beat the goalkeeper with a wonderful side-footed finish.

Moments later, the home side could have halved the deficit after Seilenthang Lotjem missed from point blank range after being setup by a low cross by Bhupinder Singh.

Three minutes later, Namdhari FC pulled a goal back through a long-range effort from Adersh Mattummal. The midfielder controlled the ball between two defenders and, with a precise low shot, found the bottom corner past the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.

Chanmari put the match to bed nine minutes from time with another well-taken goal, this time by substitute Lalthangliana. Fellow substitute KC Malsawmsanga rolled a pass across the edge of the box to the forward, who took a touch and struck a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Chanmari saw off the remainder of the match with ease, confirming Namdhari’s position in the relegation zone and keeping its hopes alive for a place in the top six of the table.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IFL #Chanmari #thrashes #Namdhari #topsix #hopes #alive

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.

Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com">Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking | Deadspin.com Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior. #NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com

much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com">Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking | Deadspin.com

Bam Adebayo scored 83 points during the Miami’s Heat’s 150-129 triumph over the Washington Wizards on March 10. Two nights later Miami coach Erik Spoelstra used part of a press conference to defend the team’s decision to keep Adebayo on the court late in the fourth quarter against the Wizards, long after the outcome had been decided.

Some of Spoelstra’s comments unwittingly shined a light on a much bigger problem than Adebayo piling up points, however: Tanking.

“These are tricky games when you’re facing teams like that,” he said. “Teams that have nothing to lose and don’t play to win. … They’re not playing for anything. Their organization is trying to lose.”

Welcome to today’s NBA, where losing has become a strategic decision. The more a team loses, the better its chances are of selecting the league’s next superstar in the NBA Draft Lottery. And we’re not talking about a few teams at the bottom of the league standings tanking either. It’s much worse than that.

According to a story in the Wall Street Journal, the 2025-26 regular season was the first time in NBA history that at least eight of the league’s teams lost two-thirds of their games.There’s evidence to suggest many of those teams sacrificed victories to enhance their position in the lottery.

Tanking, coupled with load management, has created a public relations problem for the NBA, and something much worse: an integrity problem.

Attending an NBA game can be like going to a steak house, only to see no steak on the menu. Many superstars don’t play, and many teams don’t try. Fans often don’t get what they came for.

Load management is a problem NBA commissioner Adam Silver can tackle on another day. Right now dealing with the “tanking” issue is at the top of his to-do list.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver said at the league’s board of governors meeting last month. “Full stop.”

Suggestions have poured in regarding how to “fix” tanking. A few plans the NBA is reportedly considering were leaked by the media. Most of them will give you a popsicle headache.

One good solution was put forth by former NBA player Charles Barkley, who proposed that the league shouldn’t allow teams that finish below the .500 mark to raise ticket prices. That’s something we can all get behind. He also suggested that each team in the lottery should have an equal chance of obtaining the top overall pick, instead of rewarding the worst teams with a higher probability of drafting first overall.

How about we take it a step further and eliminate the lottery and all the dizziness that comes with it. If almost half of the teams in the NBA have a chance to land the top pick then each of those teams has an incentive to tank.

Admittedly, some tanking would remain, since adding a top draft pick can change the fortunes of a NBA franchise more than it would help a struggling team in the NFL or MLB. That’s why you see very little tanking – relatively speaking – in those sports, both of which allow teams to draft in reverse order of their regular season record.

It’s not a perfect solution, but it would be a significant step in the right direction.

If there’s a better idea out there we haven’t heard it. At least this way the NBA wouldn’t be rewarding bad behavior.

#NBA #Fix #Draft #System #Stop #Tanking #Deadspin.com

Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Paralympic champions Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Choudhary have accused one of India’s top javelin coaches Naval Singh of mental harassment and repeated use of abusive language.

The four athletes submitted a written complaint via emails – which have been seen by Sportstar — to Sports Authority of India on April 10. However, Sumit told Sportstar that there had been no progress following their complaint.

Sumit’s complaint stems from an incident in November last year. According to Sumit, Naval, the coach of Sachin Yadav – who placed fourth at the World Championships last year, sent his manager a voice note late in the evening in which he had used highly abusive language directed not just at him but several Indian javelin throwers including Neeraj Chopra.

Sumit says, Naval Singh who has previously coached him as well as Navdeep for several years, had routinely been using abusive language against him. “He (Naval) gets drunk and sends random recordings to people known to us in which he abuses us. Just because he was my ex coach I’ve been tolerating this. I thought there was no point complaining. But when you use abusive language against family members then it becomes a point of no return. It was important for me to complain so that the next generation of athletes will be able to train without fear. Otherwise what’s the point of being an athlete. We can keep winning but what’s the point if your family is being abused and there’s no respect,” Sumit told Sportstar.

Sumit said that he had initially wanted to let the matter be. He says he had called up Naval and asked for an explanation. “I told him that although we had trained together in the past we hadn’t been training together for several years so we had nothing to do with each other. But nothing came of it. In March this year I recieved another recording in which he was calling the coaches working with me and other athletes as nothing more than slaves,” says Sumit.

Sumit says he and Navdeep first decided to complain and subsequently spoke to Sandeep Choudhary who was also willing to complain. They finally spoke to Neeraj and let him know the content of the voice notes following which the Olympic and world champion also agreed to send a complaint letter.

Earlier this month, Sumit initiated the written complaint

“Over a prolonged period, I have personally experienced repeated instances of verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental harassment under his conduct. The language used has been extremely degrading, not only towards athletes but also towards our families, including deeply disrespectful remarks about our mothers and even about esteemed athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary,” wrote Sumit.

“There have also been instances where the coach appeared intoxicated during training hours and created a hostile and unsafe environment. Additionally, threats related to misuse of authority, including false allegations, have caused fear among athletes,” Antil wrote. He added that he had already raised the issue through discussions with the CEO of TOPS in the presence of SDO (Sports Development officer) Para Sports.

Antil wrote in his complaint that he had been left affected by the situation. “(it) has severely affected my mental well-being, dignity and sense of safety. I feel deeply distressed that despite giving my best for the country, I am subjected to such an environment,” the email reads. Antil further noted that he was ready to submit audio evidence and fully cooperate with any investigation.

Antil’s claims have also been backed by the other athletes who also submitted written complaints. “I stand in full agreement with my fellow athletes and strongly demand strict action in this matter,” Chopra wrote in his email. “I write this as an athlete who has had the honor of representing India at both national and international levels, and who firmly believes that sport must uphold dignity, discipline, and respect. The statements made by coach Naval Singh are not just inappropriate, they are disgraceful.”

Chopra added the abusive language was something he was not willing to tolerate “Abusive language directed at me, my family, and fellow athletes cross every boundary of professionalism and basic human decency. I am shocked and disappointed to hear such derogatory comments. This kind of behavior from a person in authority is intolerable and brings disrepute to the sporting system as a whole,” he wrote.

Sandeep Chaudhary, an Arjuna awardee and world champion, also stated that he had faced similar behaviour. “… I have also experienced instances of inappropriate, abusive and unprofessional behaviour from coach Naval Singh. On multiple occasions, the conduct has included derogatory language and offensive remarks, even extending towards my family,” he wrote.

The use of abusive language was reiterated by Navdeep, the reigning Paralympic champion. “I have also faced instances of abusive, derogatory and highly inappropriate behaviour from coach Naval Singh, including offensive remarks directed towards my family. I fully support the concerns raised, as this reflects a consistent pattern of misconduct that has negatively impacted the dignity, mental well-being and overall environment for athletes,” he wrote.

Sandeep, an Arjuna awardee and world champion, also supported the complaint, stating that he had too been subject to abusive language. “I would like to formally bring to your notice that I have also experienced instances of inappropriate, abusive and unprofessional behaviour from coach Naval Singh. On multiple occasions, the conduct has included derogatory language and offensive remarks, even extending towards my family, which is deeply unacceptable,” he wrote.

Matter in limbo

The athletes wrote that they expected action to be taken against the coach. “I urge the Sports Authority of India to take immediate and decisive action. There must be clear consequences for such conduct, along with strict accountability, to ensure that no athlete has to endure this kind of behavior again. Our athletes deserve professionalism, respect, and a system that protects them, not one that tolerates misconduct. I expect this issue to be addressed with the seriousness it demands,” Chopra wrote in his letter.

Antil added as evidence in his complaint a recording of the voice note Naval had sent to his manager.

“There has been no satisfactory response from SAI despite multiple follow ups. There’s no action taken even when Neeraj and I have complained. What would junior athletes have to go through?. But SAI is neither answering nor responding or taking action. They are either waiting for us to calm down or they are just waiting for us to calm down and leave, “ Sumit said.

According to Sumit, Nash Johal, the CEO of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium scheme – the governments program to support elite athletes) tried to broker a compromise between him and Naval. “I showed the recording and he (Naval Singh) admitted that he had sent this recording to my manager. Despite this they are not taking any action. When I spoke to the TOPS CEO, he asked me what he could do about the matter. He said that if I wanted to go about the legal route, it would only be trouble for me. But I am ready to get into trouble now,” Sumit says.

Sumit said that he wanted coach Naval removed from his role as a coach at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where he is currently training Sachin Yadav, considered one of the biggest prospects in the javelin throw in India.

A official in SAI admitted that Sumit had made a complaint about the coach. “A complaint has been received from Sumit Antil, Paralympic Gold Medalist, alleging verbal abuse by a coach Naval Singh. The complaint has also been supported by other athletes, including Neeraj Chopra,” the official who did not wish to be named said.

However the official added that they could not do anything about the matter and that it would be taken up with the Athletics Federation of India. “The coach in question is not an SAI employee and is training another leading athlete as part of National Coaching Camp organised by AFI. The complaint has been received against the coach and the matter is being duly taken up with the federation,” he official said.

However the Athletics Federation of India too is washing its hands off the situation. “There is no written complaint (made about the matter) to AFI. It seems that some unparliamentary language was used by Naval, though not directly to Neeraj. Naval has apologised to Neeraj. That is where the matter is at the moment,” a senior official with the AFI told Sportstar.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Sumit #Antil #Neeraj #Chopra #accuse #senior #coach #harassment #abusive #language">Sumit Antil, Neeraj Chopra accuse senior coach of harassment and using abusive language Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Paralympic champions Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Choudhary have accused one of India’s top javelin coaches Naval Singh of mental harassment and repeated use of abusive language.The four athletes submitted a written complaint via emails – which have been seen by Sportstar — to Sports Authority of India on April 10. However, Sumit told Sportstar that there had been no progress following their complaint.Sumit’s complaint stems from an incident in November last year. According to Sumit, Naval, the coach of Sachin Yadav – who placed fourth at the World Championships last year, sent his manager a voice note late in the evening in which he had used highly abusive language directed not just at him but several Indian javelin throwers including Neeraj Chopra.Sumit says, Naval Singh who has previously coached him as well as Navdeep for several years, had routinely been using abusive language against him. “He (Naval) gets drunk and sends random recordings to people known to us in which he abuses us. Just because he was my ex coach I’ve been tolerating this. I thought there was no point complaining. But when you use abusive language against family members then it becomes a point of no return. It was important for me to complain so that the next generation of athletes will be able to train without fear. Otherwise what’s the point of being an athlete. We can keep winning but what’s the point if your family is being abused and there’s no respect,” Sumit told Sportstar.Sumit said that he had initially wanted to let the matter be. He says he had called up Naval and asked for an explanation. “I told him that although we had trained together in the past we hadn’t been training together for several years so we had nothing to do with each other. But nothing came of it. In March this year I recieved another recording in which he was calling the coaches working with me and other athletes as nothing more than slaves,” says Sumit.Sumit says he and Navdeep first decided to complain and subsequently spoke to Sandeep Choudhary who was also willing to complain. They finally spoke to Neeraj and let him know the content of the voice notes following which the Olympic and world champion also agreed to send a complaint letter.Earlier this month, Sumit initiated the written complaint“Over a prolonged period, I have personally experienced repeated instances of verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental harassment under his conduct. The language used has been extremely degrading, not only towards athletes but also towards our families, including deeply disrespectful remarks about our mothers and even about esteemed athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary,” wrote Sumit.“There have also been instances where the coach appeared intoxicated during training hours and created a hostile and unsafe environment. Additionally, threats related to misuse of authority, including false allegations, have caused fear among athletes,” Antil wrote. He added that he had already raised the issue through discussions with the CEO of TOPS in the presence of SDO (Sports Development officer) Para Sports.Antil wrote in his complaint that he had been left affected by the situation. “(it) has severely affected my mental well-being, dignity and sense of safety. I feel deeply distressed that despite giving my best for the country, I am subjected to such an environment,” the email reads. Antil further noted that he was ready to submit audio evidence and fully cooperate with any investigation.Antil’s claims have also been backed by the other athletes who also submitted written complaints. “I stand in full agreement with my fellow athletes and strongly demand strict action in this matter,” Chopra wrote in his email. “I write this as an athlete who has had the honor of representing India at both national and international levels, and who firmly believes that sport must uphold dignity, discipline, and respect. The statements made by coach Naval Singh are not just inappropriate, they are disgraceful.”Chopra added the abusive language was something he was not willing to tolerate “Abusive language directed at me, my family, and fellow athletes cross every boundary of professionalism and basic human decency. I am shocked and disappointed to hear such derogatory comments. This kind of behavior from a person in authority is intolerable and brings disrepute to the sporting system as a whole,” he wrote.Sandeep Chaudhary, an Arjuna awardee and world champion, also stated that he had faced similar behaviour. “… I have also experienced instances of inappropriate, abusive and unprofessional behaviour from coach Naval Singh. On multiple occasions, the conduct has included derogatory language and offensive remarks, even extending towards my family,” he wrote.The use of abusive language was reiterated by Navdeep, the reigning Paralympic champion. “I have also faced instances of abusive, derogatory and highly inappropriate behaviour from coach Naval Singh, including offensive remarks directed towards my family. I fully support the concerns raised, as this reflects a consistent pattern of misconduct that has negatively impacted the dignity, mental well-being and overall environment for athletes,” he wrote.Sandeep, an Arjuna awardee and world champion, also supported the complaint, stating that he had too been subject to abusive language. “I would like to formally bring to your notice that I have also experienced instances of inappropriate, abusive and unprofessional behaviour from coach Naval Singh. On multiple occasions, the conduct has included derogatory language and offensive remarks, even extending towards my family, which is deeply unacceptable,” he wrote.Matter in limboThe athletes wrote that they expected action to be taken against the coach. “I urge the Sports Authority of India to take immediate and decisive action. There must be clear consequences for such conduct, along with strict accountability, to ensure that no athlete has to endure this kind of behavior again. Our athletes deserve professionalism, respect, and a system that protects them, not one that tolerates misconduct. I expect this issue to be addressed with the seriousness it demands,” Chopra wrote in his letter.Antil added as evidence in his complaint a recording of the voice note Naval had sent to his manager.“There has been no satisfactory response from SAI despite multiple follow ups. There’s no action taken even when Neeraj and I have complained. What would junior athletes have to go through?. But SAI is neither answering nor responding or taking action. They are either waiting for us to calm down or they are just waiting for us to calm down and leave, “ Sumit said.According to Sumit, Nash Johal, the CEO of TOPS (Target Olympic Podium scheme – the governments program to support elite athletes) tried to broker a compromise between him and Naval. “I showed the recording and he (Naval Singh) admitted that he had sent this recording to my manager. Despite this they are not taking any action. When I spoke to the TOPS CEO, he asked me what he could do about the matter. He said that if I wanted to go about the legal route, it would only be trouble for me. But I am ready to get into trouble now,” Sumit says.Sumit said that he wanted coach Naval removed from his role as a coach at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where he is currently training Sachin Yadav, considered one of the biggest prospects in the javelin throw in India.A official in SAI admitted that Sumit had made a complaint about the coach. “A complaint has been received from Sumit Antil, Paralympic Gold Medalist, alleging verbal abuse by a coach Naval Singh. The complaint has also been supported by other athletes, including Neeraj Chopra,” the official who did not wish to be named said.However the official added that they could not do anything about the matter and that it would be taken up with the Athletics Federation of India. “The coach in question is not an SAI employee and is training another leading athlete as part of National Coaching Camp organised by AFI. The complaint has been received against the coach and the matter is being duly taken up with the federation,” he official said.However the Athletics Federation of India too is washing its hands off the situation. “There is no written complaint (made about the matter) to AFI. It seems that some unparliamentary language was used by Naval, though not directly to Neeraj. Naval has apologised to Neeraj. That is where the matter is at the moment,” a senior official with the AFI told Sportstar.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #Sumit #Antil #Neeraj #Chopra #accuse #senior #coach #harassment #abusive #language

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