A1 Sports World CEO Bars Male Hires From Four North Indian States

Karthik Shenoy, the Bengaluru‑based CEO of A1 Sports World, posted on X that the company will no longer accept male applicants from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. He said the decision came after a "lengthy discussion and quarrel" within the firm, citing the dismissal of a male employee who had repeatedly abused female staff and allegedly forced himself on one of them.

The dismissed employee, an MBA graduate, had been warned twice before the company terminated his contract two weeks ago. Shenoy claimed the allegations were unrelated to his educational background and that the incident highlighted a broader concern for the safety of the 32‑person team that works with young children.

The announcement sparked a wave of criticism on X, with users arguing that the policy unfairly generalised men from entire states. One user wrote, "Imagine being so bad at hiring that instead of screening individuals for competence, you blacklist entire states." Another added, "Misconduct by one person should not automatically be attributed to a whole state."

In response, Shenoy emphasized that A1 Sports World already employs 14 women and 12 non‑southern staff, and that the new policy is meant to reinforce a safe environment for all employees and children. He said the company will enforce the ban in all future recruitment drives, a move that will likely prompt further debate over regional hiring practices.