CHENNAI: Hopes of an end to the factional feuding that has crippled the functioning of the Volleyball Federation of India for nigh on two years have again been raised following VFI’s AGM here on Sunday, where West Bengal’s Rathin Roy Choudhary was named ad hoc president.
What put a dampener on any such hopes was that the meeting was marred by protests by “representatives of a few state associations” who were not allowed inside the hall.
Post the AGM, the VFI also declared it would launch its long in the pipeline Indian Volleyball League and Beach Volleyball Tournaments in 2018.
Regarding the league, the VFI stated: “The federation is also pleased to inform that it has resolved to conduct the Indian Volleyball League and Beach Volleyball Touraments in 2018. The conduct of these tournaments will bring back the focus and attention on the sport and the players.
“By the successful conduct of these meetings (AGM) the federation has spelt a new dawn in the sport and the federation will be able to focus its resources and attention once again for the purpose of promoting the game of volleyball in India, which is the bounden duty of the federation.”
It bears recalling that the split in the VFI tipped off in January 2016 after the federation, which then had Avadesh Choudhary Kumar as its president, signed a commercial rights agreement with Sportzlive Entertainment for the launch of the Indian Volleyball League (IVL) and the Indian Beach Volleyball League (IBVL). The ink had barely dried on that deal than there was a split in the federation with a “core committee” headed by VFI secretary general Ramavtar Singh Jakhar announcing the signing of a separate agreement with rival Baseline Ventures.
The factional feuding not only killed off any hopes of the league launching any time soon but also led to world governing body FIVB suspending VFI. Additionally, it bears noting that no Indian team has participated in any major
international tournament since differences emerged between Kumar and Jakhar.
Even as the Jakhar faction claimed to have the support of a majority of members, not surprisingly, the matter moved to the courts.
Following a favourable Chennai High Court court verdict, the VFI, under the faction led by Jakhar, secured the recognition of the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry.
Subsequently, the Delhi High Court, in its order of April 27, ruled that the results of the VFI elections held in Chennai on April 11, 2016, be upheld for all posts on the executive body, save for S Vasudevan’s elevation as president, The Hindu reports.
Coming back to the present situation, with the Delhi High Court set to post its orders on the validity of the earlier election on February 15, 2018, Roy Choudhary will hold the post until then, The Hindu reports.
As for the FIVB, while noting that that it respects the Delhi HC order, it maintained that VFI’s suspension stays “till the office of president is filled in accordance with Indian law”.
The FIVB letter dated August 22, accessed by The Hindu, reads: “The FIVB emphasises that the position of the President of the VFI is currently vacant as the term of [Avadesh Choudhary] Kumar has expired by his own admission in July 2017.
“The FIVB is also aware of the petition before the Delhi High Court seeking recognition of the elections held in 2016 for the office of President. Consequently the office of President is the only vacant position among the VFI office-bearers.”
“Summarising the circumstances, all of the relevant stakeholders in India recognise the above-mentioned office-bearers under Indian law. Consequently, the FIVB recognises that the above office-bearers are the current office-bearers of VFI under Indian law.”
The Hindu further quotes the FIVB letter as stating that it would inform its board of administration to consider lifting of the provisional suspension on the VFI after the office of president is filled in accordance with Indian law.
As for Sunday’s AGM, the VFI declared: “By the successful conduct of these meetings (AGM) the federation has spelt a new dawn in the sport and the federation will be able to focus its resources and attention once again for the purpose of promoting the game of volleyball in India, which is the bounden duty of the federation.”
Further, as a declaration on intent, the events calendar for 2017-2018 was also “finalised” with national championships allotted to Aizawl (Mizoram), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Hyderabad (Telangana), Bardwan (West Bengal), Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh), and Bhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh).
While it remains to be seen as to how all this will finally pan out, Sportzlive chairman Atul Pande tells SportzPower he looks forward to conducting the IVL as and when the federation sorts out its internal issues. Pande said the controversies notwithstanding, Sportzlive remained bullish on the commercial prospects of the game in India.
