Archery fails to get recognition from Ministry in annual renewal

New Delhi, February 4 

The Archery Association of India (AAI) does not figure in the Sports Ministry’s list of recognised national federations after the annual renewal, even though AAI’s fresh elections were held under a new constitution. 

BVP Rao was elected AAI president on December 22 in the elections held under the supervision of the Delhi High Court-appointed administrator and former Chief Election Commissioner of India SY Quraishi.

The elections were initially not recognised by its international parent body, but accepted later. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is, however, yet to recognise the elections.  The Sports Ministry and IOA had objected to certain clauses in the amended constitution submitted by Quraishi to the High Court. Their objections were based on the contention that the amended constitution, in parts, did not tally with the National Sports Development Code of India (NSDCI), 2011.

Along with AAI, other NSFs left out of the annual recognition included the Indian Golf Union, the Gymnastics Federation of India and the Taekwondo Federation of India. 

The Ministry renewed the recognition of 52 NSFs for the duration up to December 31, including 16 which did not comply with its four-year-old directive to disclose their activities on their respective websites. The directive was meant to ensure transparency in the functioning of the NSFs. The 16  NSFs have been given time till March 31 to fall in line or risk de-recognition. — PTI