Gymnastics team selected on a drama-filled day

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 16

The Indian team for the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships has been selected on yet another drama-filled day. Importantly, all the stakeholders — representatives of both the warring factions of the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) — were on the same page to select the six-member team for the October 4-13 event in Stuttgart. 

Ashish Kumar, who won silver in vault and bronze in floor exercise in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will lead the team that also includes 2018 World Cup bronze medallist Aruna Budda Reddy.

Monday was the last date to send the entries for the Worlds. However, a few of the gymnasts were unable to attend the trials due to a lack of coordination amongst the stakeholders. SAI had to postpone the earlier trials, to be held at the IG Indoor Stadium on September 2-3, after IOA said it had no jurisdiction to select the team. As a consequence, a few of the athletes had to return to their home bases. Monday’s selection trials were announced late on Saturday and a few stayed away due to this last-minute scheduling.

“It is unfortunate. Both the federation and SAI don’t think about the gymnasts before taking any decision,” said a coach on the condition of anonymity. “They called the trials and then cancelled them earlier this month. Don’t they know that there is cost involved in travelling?” 

“A few of us had to stop our training and head to Delhi to attend the trials. Not everyone could afford to book tickets at the last minute. The situation is sad,” he added.

FIG backs Sudhakar faction

Earlier in the day, the international gymnastics federation (FIG) hit back at the Sports Ministry, which has insinuated that the stand taken by the world body was “leading to protection and encouragement to malpractices, mis-governance and unethical practices”.

FIG secretary general Nicolas Buompane told the Ministery that registrations sent by the president and secretary general of the body they recognise will be entertained.

“As long as GFI is in good standing with us, we can and shall therefore only accept registrations duly signed by their president or secretary general we recognise,” Buompane wrote to joint secretary Inder Dhamija.

“We regret the ongoing fighting within GFI which seems to have started with the query concerning the secretary general who was replaced against his will. Such internal tensions and court cases are always to the detriment of the athletes. We sincerely hope that with the new elections this shall now come to an end,” he added.

World Championships team

Ashish Kumar, Yogeshwar Singh, Aditya Singh Rana, Pranati Nayak, Pranati Das. Aruna Budda Reddy 

IOA apprises World Archery of team for Asian Para C’ship

New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) today wrote to World Archery, apprising the governing body of the eight-member team selected for the 3rd Asian Para Championship to be held in Bangkok from October 18 to 26. In the letter addressed to secretary general of World Archery, IOA president Narinder Batra informed that all five members of the court-appointed transitory committee of the Archery Association of India met on September 14 at New Delhi. “It has been resolved unanimously by the Transitory Committee that the Para Selection Trials conducted on 12th and 13th August at Sonepat, Haryana, would be considered for the selection of team for 3rd Asian Para Championship,” said Batra. PTI