Overseas Indian representation in Indian sports explained

The Overseas Indian representation in Indian sports refers to the participation of foreign nationals of Indian origin in international events of both senior and junior level representing the Republic of India. As India prohibits dual nationality, sports representation in international events with respect to Indian participation has generally followed the norm of selection of sportspeople of Indian nationality.

Despite this due to the ambiguity of representation law till 2008, many Overseas Indian sportspeople have represented India at international events. While individual sports such as tennis, figure skating etc, dominate Overseas Indian sportspeople representation, rugby union remains the only major team sport with Overseas Indian players,^{[1] [2] [3]} until 2008 when the Overseas Indians were disqualified from representing India.

History

In India however, the National sports representation law stems from a circular issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in December 2008, wherein it directed all national sports federations that any sportsperson representing India at the international level must hold a valid Indian passport. The rule was upheld in 2010 by the Delhi High Court in the Karm Kumar vs Union Of India and Ors.^[4]

The Indian law, with respect to the eligibility of Overseas Indians representing India stands at odds with the eligibility criteria for national representation of any sports governing bodies since 2008 when the current regulations were enforced and Overseas Indian representation was abolished. Before 2008 order and 2011 enactment of National Sports Code, due to ambiguity and lack of any sports law in the country with respect to player representation in international events, many Overseas Indian sportspeople had represented India in certain sports such as tennis, winter sports, swimming, etc.^{[5] [6]}

Overseas Indian sportspeople representing India

This is a list of Overseas Indian sportspeople (both men and women) who have represented or are currently representing India in any sport at international level.

• Players of Indian origin, who represented India while retaining their original nationality.
• Players of Indian origin, who represented India while or after giving up their original nationality and taking up Indian citizenship.

Note:

• Representation after 2008: Despite the 2008 rule change, a handful of Overseas Indians continued to represent India in certain individual sports such as tennis, winter sports, badminton etc., but this continued without Indian sports federations' support and also international rules for national representation remained unchanged. But while they represented India on an individual capacity at the international events, due to the withdrawal of the Indian sports federations' administrative and financial support,^[7] they remained ineligible to represent India at multi-sport events such as Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games.
• Dual citizenship for minors: Dual citizenship in India is allowed in certain cases of minor children, as those who are born outside the territory of India can obtain Indian citizenship through descent (by Section 4 of The Citizenship Act, 1955) as well as of the foreign country (by Jus soli, e.g. United States). Thus the minors in such cases can remain dual citizens till 18 upon which they will have to choose only one citizenship.^[8] This has enabled some minor Overseas Indians to represent India post 2008, but will become ineligible if they choose the foreign citizenship upon attaining majority.
• Status of Unrecognised sports: Certain major sports such as Mixed martial arts (MMA) have not been recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (India) as a sport in India, which are instead held as events. The Indian MMA federations do not form a part of the National Sports Federations and thus they are not covered under the National Sports Code 2011. Thus the Overseas Indian fighters can represent India as individual representatives at professional MMA fights as they do not come under the purview of any sports federation.^[9]

Color key:

Team sports

Cricket

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Lall Singh		1932		^[10]
Robin Singh		1989–2001	Cricket World Cup	^[11]

Football

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Balai Dey		1969–1970	Merdeka Tournament	^[12]
Arata Izumi		2013–2014	AFC Challenge Cup, SAFF Championship	^[13]
Sunny Dhaliwal		2017	FIFA U-17 World Cup	^[14]

Rugby union

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Manmandir Singh Samra		2004–2006		^[16]
Simon Patel Knowles		2004–2006
Amarveer Singh Ladhar		2004–2006
Ajay Sabharwal		2004–2006

Individual sports

Tennis

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Prakash Amritraj		2002–2013	Grand Slams, Davis Cup	^[18]
Stephen Amritraj		2003–2008		^[19]
Shikha Uberoi		2005–2011	Asian Games, Fed Cup	^[20]
Sunitha Rao		2007–2009	Summer Olympics, Fed Cup	^[21]
Kanika Vaidya		2008–2018		^[22] ^[23]
Krisha Mahendran		2022–		^[24] ^[25]
Aishi Bisht		2022–		^[26] ^[27]
Vihaan Reddy		2023–2024		^[28] ^[29]

Figure skating

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Ami Parekh		2006–2014	Worlds, Four Continents	^[30]
Amar Mehta		2007	World Juniors	^[31]
Yoniko Eva Washington		2008–2010	Worlds	^[32]
Anavi Tekriwal		2013		^[33]
Shreya Saha Dalal		2015		^[34]
Arunima Verabelli		2017		^[35]
Tara Prasad		2020–	Four Continents	^[36]

Chess

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Akshat Chandra		2009–2012		^[40] ^[41]
Tarun Kanyamarala		2014–2017		^[42] ^[43]
Trisha Kanyamarala		2014–2017		^[44]
Amaya Agarwal		2022–2023		^[45] ^[46]
Anay Agarwal		2022–2023		^[47]

Skiing

Other sports

Mixed martial arts (Pro MMA)

Sportsperson	Nationality	Years	Notable events	Ref
Arjan Bhullar		2017–	UFC, ONE FC	^[52] ^[53]
Gurdarshan Mangat		2019–	ONE FC	^[54]

See also

• Indian diaspora
• List of India international footballers born outside India

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rugby stars flying the flag . Asian Image . 27 May 2006 . 29 June 2024 .
2. Web site: India look to foreign legion to inspire their first victory . South China Morning Post . 27 October 2004 . 29 June 2024 .
3. Web site: Experienced players to spearhead Indian rugby attack . oneindia.com . 2 June 2006 . 29 June 2024 .
4. Web site: Karm Kumar vs Union Of India & Ors on 3 August, 2010 . Indian Kanoon . 3 August 2010 . 7 January 2024 .
5. Web site: Government slams door on Overseas Indian, OCI players . The Times of India . 26 December 2008 . 31 December 2023 . 1 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210401151759/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/government-slams-door-on-pio-oci-players/articleshow/3895557.cms . live .
6. Web site: Government slams door on Overseas Indian, OCI players . India Today . 26 December 2008 .
7. Web site: Confusion reigns over Overseas Indian sportspersons . Hindustan Times . 2 June 2009 .
8. Web site: 27 November 2023 . Passport_Manual_16_Chapters_to_be_disclosed . Passport_Manual_16_Chapters_to_be_disclosed.
9. Web site: Legality of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) In India . Global Sports Policy Review . 22 June 2022 .
10. Web site: Lall Singh . ESPNcricinfo . 7 January 2024 .
11. Web site: Robin Singh . ESPNcricinfo . 31 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231222104950/https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/robin-singh-34059 . live .
12. Web site: Indian Football: Balai Dey, the Mohun Bagan legend who played for both India and Pakistan. scroll.in. Scroll. 13 August 2022. 13 August 2022. Jaydeep. Basu. 13 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220813112136/https://scroll.in/field/1030283/indian-football-balai-dey-the-mohun-bagan-legend-who-played-for-both-india-and-pakistan. live.
13. Web site: Indo-Asian News Service. NDTV. Arata Izumi becomes first foreign national to be selected for Indian football team. sports.ndtv.com. NDTV Sport. 29 January 2013. 24 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221161316/http://sports.ndtv.com/football/news/202674-arata-izumi-becomes-first-foreign-national-to-be-selected-for-indian-football-team. 21 February 2014. dead.
14. News: Hoping for some Sunny time in goal . deccanherald.com . 2 October 2017 . Pragya . Tiwari . 12 May 2023 . 12 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230512152311/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/635920/hoping-some-sunny-time-goal.html . live .
15. Web site: Trevor Fernandes: The hockey star from Zanzibar who won many Indian hearts. The Times of India. 4 October 2021. 10 January 2024. Marcus. Mergulhao.
16. Web site: Internationals . moseleyrugby.co.uk . 29 June 2024 .
17. Web site: Indian boxer passes away. The Telegraph. 10 February 2005. 29 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20110525231532/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050210/asp/sports/story_4360162.asp. 25 May 2011.
18. Web site: Prakash Amritraj . ATP . 31 December 2023 . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003010518/https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/A487/overview . live .
19. Web site: Stephen Amritraj . ATP . 31 December 2023 . 28 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728154759/https://www.atptour.com/en/players/-/A536/overview . live .
20. Web site: Shikha Uberoi . WTA . 31 December 2023 . 31 July 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230731051549/https://www.wtatennis.com/players/210043/- . live .
21. Web site: Sunitha Rao . WTA . 31 December 2023 . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622181950/https://www.wtatennis.com/players/180432/name . live .
22. Web site: Interview with Kanika Vaidya . Indian Tennis Daily . 25 May 2018 .
23. Web site: Kanika Vaidya . ITF . 14 March 2024 .
24. Web site: Krisha Mahendran . ITF . 26 January 2024 .
25. Web site: ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors USA National Rank . USTA . 26 January 2024 .
26. Web site: Aishi Bisht . ITF . 26 May 2024 .
27. Web site: USA Top 200 - GIRLS . USTA . 26 May 2024 .
28. Web site: Vihaan Reddy . wimbledon.com . 13 March 2024 .
29. Web site: Vihaan Reddy . ITF . 13 March 2024 .
30. Web site: Ami Parekh . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 20 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820072255/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009836.htm . live .
31. Web site: Amar Mehta . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 20 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820072223/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00009835.htm . live .
32. Web site: Yoniko Eva Washington . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 20 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820121238/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00011198.htm . live .
33. Web site: Anavi Tekriwal . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 21 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821133703/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014518.htm . live .
34. Web site: Shreya Saha Dalal . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 21 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230821182127/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00015181.htm . live .
35. Web site: Arunima Verabelli . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 22 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822130912/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00101365.htm . live .
36. Web site: Tara Prasad . ISU . 31 December 2023 . 22 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220322001730/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00108989.htm . live .
37. Web site: A fight for the right to play for India . Hindustan Times . 23 December 2008 . 31 December 2023 .
38. Web site: Swimmer Poseria requests govt to reconsider Overseas Indian policy . The Times of India . 30 December 2008 .
39. Web site: Sorab Singh Gill . ISSF . 31 December 2023 .
40. Web site: Chandra, Akshat . ratings.fide.com . FIDE . 6 July 2024 .
41. Web site: FE SERVER24CHESS . ratings.fide.com . 6 July 2024 .
42. Web site: Kanyamarala, Tarun . ratings.fide.com . FIDE . 26 May 2024 .
43. Web site: HYDERABAD OPEN ALL INDIA FIDE RATING . ratings.fide.com . 26 May 2024 .
44. Web site: Kanyamarala, Trisha . ratings.fide.com . FIDE . 26 May 2024 .
45. Web site: Agarwal, Amaya . ratings.fide.com . FIDE . 11 May 2024 .
46. Web site: 6TH CREWE CHESS CONGRESS - FIDE OPEN . ratings.fide.com . 11 May 2024 .
47. Web site: Agarwal, Anay . ratings.fide.com . FIDE . 11 May 2024 .
48. Web site: Srivedya Gurazada . BWF . 31 December 2023 . 21 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321100421/https://bwfbadminton.com/player/96531/srivedya-gurazada . live .
49. Web site: 2023-01-20 . From Boston to Hyderabad to back in the US: Srivedya leaves India in quest for Olympics . 2023-07-24 . Hindustan Times .
50. Web site: Leona Dogra . FIS-Ski . International Ski Federation . 26 January 2024 .
51. Web site: FIS - SLOPESTYLE . sess.lobadi.de . 26 January 2024 .
52. Web site: Arjan Singh Bhullar . UFC . 17 March 2024 .
53. Web site: Arjan Singh Bhullar . ONE FC . 17 March 2024 .
54. Web site: Gurdarshan Mangat . ONE FC . 17 March 2024 .