IOA bosses want Namdev in Tokyo party, treasurer revolts

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 6

The issue of India Taekwondo (IT) president Namdev Shirgaonkar’s inclusion in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) delegation for the Tokyo Olympics is expected to rock Wednesday’s meeting to decide the final list of officials.

Shirgaonkar’s name has been agreed upon by IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary general Rajeev Mehta. However, as per rules, IOA will be allowed to send one official for every 20 qualified athletes. With India sending 126 athletes time to Tokyo, IOA can send only six officials. Shirgaonkar’s name is on the list that will be finalised on Wednesday. It has irked several IOA members as no taekwondo athlete has qualified for the Olympics.

Sports Minister Rijiju to skip Games

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has informed IOA that he will not be travelling to the Tokyo Olympics. Last month, Rijiju had announced that the Sports Ministry had decided against sending its delegation for the Games as they wanted to prioritise accommodation of support staff in Tokyo.

IOA’s first priority is to accommodate in the delegation officials from those federations whose athletes have qualified for the Olympics. Since athletes from 18 federations have qualified, IOA already faces a headache — IOA has, thus, decided to send two batches of six officials each for the entire duration of the Olympics.

Controversial

Shirgaonkar, the president of IT, has been a controversial figure. There are several complaints with the IOA from several district associations in Maharashtra claiming he ‘forcefully’ became the president of the state unit.

Former TFI president Harish Kumar has also registered a complaint against Shirgaonkar with the IOA Ethics Commission, alleging Shirgaonkar heads over 10 sports federations, in violation of the IOA constitution.

IT failed to enter the Indian team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Jordan in May after it failed to hold trials in time. It could not enter the team for the final qualifying tournament in Lebanon after the hosts denied visas.

‘Namdev can’t go’

IOA treasurer Anandeshwar Pandey, whose name has been dropped from the delegation to accommodate Shirgaonkar, has openly revolted. “I don’t care whether I am going to Tokyo or not but let me assure you, I will not sign on any cheque if Namdev is part of the list,” Pandey told The Tribune. “I will tell the same to the IOA Finance Committee. We have to send people who deserve and not encourage someone like Namdev. How can Namdev go? No athlete has qualified in taekwondo!” he added.