We’ll not be mute spectator: Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Tuesday made it clear that he will not tolerate mismanagement of national federations and will take action if the interests of athletes are affected.

Some sports federations, including Archery Association ofIndia (AAI) and Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI), have been experiencingfactional feuds and Rijiju said his prime concern is to protect the interestsof these sports and the players.

   

“Govt cannot intervene or intrude in the running offederations but we will not be a mute spectator if a sport is destroyed bymismanagement in any federation,” Rijiju said during an interaction.”It reflects upon us as a nation if there is a problem in a federation. Ifthey run  into conflict withinternational federations, then the government has to be consulted.”

The two warring factions of AAI recently elected twopresidents, forcing the World Archery to de-list the national federation as itsmember and warn it to either get its house in order by July 31 or facesuspension.

“What happened in archery, there are certain directionsgiven by the court and after that the two factions did something which is notproper. But whatever it may be, we will ask them to work in tandem with thecourt directive and the interest of the players should not suffer,” Rijijusaid.

The Sports Minister said he will soon resign from hisposition as President of Arunachal Archery Association. “I am stillarchery association president (of Arunachal Pradesh) but now I will resign. Iwill ask the state unit to conduct a meeting and start the process of electinga new president.” Gymnastics does not have a government-recognisedfederation since 2012. There are two factions in GFI which has beende-recognised by the IOA. Rijiju said: “I haven’t seen in detail the issuesof GFI but the factional issue within the sports bodies needs to be addressed.If a particular discipline is suffering because of problems in the federation,then we will take corrective steps. I don’t want the gymnasts to suffer.

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