CWG Squad: Delhi High Court asks Indian Olympic Association to increase AFI quota
New Delhi, June 24
The Delhi High Court has said it was hopeful that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) would increase the quota of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) so that additional athletes, including high jumper Tejaswin Shankar, could be accommodated as part of the team for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
AFI had told the court that Shankar’s name could be included in the contingent if IOA increased its quota for the CWG, which start in late July.
High jumper Shankar had approached the Delhi High Court after he was not included by AFI in the team for the CWG despite him clearing the qualification mark of 2.27 metres. He had cleared the mark at the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championship in USA, also winning gold.
The court, while hearing the case, had asked AFI to consider Shankar for inclusion.
“Suffice to say at this moment that this Court is hopeful that the IOA would increase the AFI quota for participation in the Commonwealth Games so that all five additionally selected athletes (including Shankar) are included in the Commonwealth contingent,” Justice Jasmeet Singh was quoted as saying by the news website livelaw.in.
The matter was posted for further hearing on July 4.
In his petition, Shankar had said that he was excluded from the CWG squad as he did not take permission from AFI to skip the Interstate Senior Athletics Championships.
