In an embarrassment to India, the country has been warned of heavy penalty by Olympic Council of Asia if it withdraws from sending teams in a few disciplines in the upcoming Asian Games, a development which led to IOA slamming some government officials for ‘ruining sport’. Indian Olympic Association received an e-mail from OCA on August 29, which warned IOA of penalty if it withdraws from some sporting disciplines, including football and table tennis, for the September 19-October 4 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
‘We have received news the Sports Authority of India may force the India NOC to withdraw from football, basketball, handball, table tennis and sepak takraw in the 17th Asian Games,’ the letter from the OCA said.
Calling the development as an embarrassment to the country, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said a few officials in the sports ministry and SAI were ruining sport in the country. ‘I don’t blame the whole sports ministry or the sports minister. Two-Few officials in the ministry and SAI are ruining Indian sport by trying to interfere in the working of IOA and national federations. The ministry and SAI have formulated criteria for sending teams and athletes in Asian Games. That was a case of interfering in the work of selection committee of NSFs and IOA,’ Mehta said.
‘We have received news the Sports Authority of India may force the India NOC to withdraw from football, basketball, handball, table tennis and sepak takraw in the 17th Asian Games,’ the letter from the OCA said.
Calling the development as an embarrassment to the country, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said a few officials in the sports ministry and SAI were ruining sport in the country. ‘I don’t blame the whole sports ministry or the sports minister. Two-Few officials in the ministry and SAI are ruining Indian sport by trying to interfere in the working of IOA and national federations. The ministry and SAI have formulated criteria for sending teams and athletes in Asian Games. That was a case of interfering in the work of selection committee of NSFs and IOA,’ Mehta said.