‘Only a goodwill gesture’: Govt hesitantly clears athletes of 5 sports for Asian Indoor Games
Around 70 Indian athletes of five unrecognised sporting disciplines on Thursday heaved a sigh of relief as the government cleared them to take part in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, to be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
These 70 athletes, who are to take part in the event, had to cancel their flights on Wednesday after the government initially refused to give them clearance on the ground that these disciplines are neither recognised by it nor by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The government though approved their participation for the September 17-27 multi-sporting event at the eleventh hour on Thursday, it warned the federations — traditional and belt wrestling, kurash, jiu-jitsu, dancesport and sambo — not succumb to “emotional blackmail” in future.
But with less than three days to the opening of the Games, the government finally gave the go ahead for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, considered as the second most important multi-sporting event in the continent. The IOA has already entered their names for the event, where more than 200 athletes will represent India.
“We met the representatives of the five federations and have given them a go ahead for the Games. But we have clearly told …read more
