IOA on sleep mode and clueless over South Asian Games


IOA on sleep mode and clueless over South Asian Games

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South Asian Games commenced from 1st December

13th edition of South Asian games commenced from Sunday, in Kathmandu, Nepal,  with President Nepal Vidya Bhandari declared the games open. The games will feature 306 events in 28 sports with cricket returning after 8 years.

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Tajinderpal Singh Toor was the flag bearer of a strong Indian contingent in opening ceremony. A total 2715 athletes are scheduled to compete over 10 days, with India has provisionally entered 487 participants.

India threatened to pull out of the games after Taekwondo, Archery and Karate players were denied to participate. The organisers had declined India’s entry as all these federations have been suspended by International Olympic Association.

World Taekwando and International Olympic Association have asked the organising committee to allow participation of Indian Taekwondo players, saying the athlete should not suffer from a situation they are not responsible for.

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India have it’s issues with a few sports federations. But a strong nation like India unable to exert itself even in the region as karate and archery team entries were denied. India lost it’s stronghold over SAARC nations and clearly shows IOA having trouble with office bearer which holds sporting matters. IOA is taking SAG very lightly and been in controversies over a last few days.

Now comes selection of players, their tickets and kits. Indian volleyball team almost missed it’s match due to delay of kits and air tickets by IOA.

There has been controversies over selection of players as NRAI sent a second string team of shooting to Kathmandu in which Chinki Yadav, who won us Olympic quota was not included. It’s understandable that currently Indian shooting is a force and we can send lesser ranked shooter but then needs some clarity.

Athletics team was also announced at the last hour and we were unsure about the flag bearer till the last day. In badminton, Prajakta Sawant was annoyed about team selection and asked BAI why National champion were not selected in SAG games, she wrote on twitter.

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It’s hard to understand why IOA not publishing teams going to games. If we are spending 10-12 crore rupees for team trip to Kathmandu then there should be some positive attitude towards the SA Games from IOA, without keeping in mind that it have high or low standard.