NEW DELHI: The Archery Association of India (AAI) has announced that it will be conducting much-awaited national championship tournaments and selection trials across all age categories despite not gaining the approval of the Sports Ministry, The New Indian Express reports.
The newly-elected office bearers will also be holding an executive committee meeting on 13 during the junior national tournament, which will take place between 7-14 February in Bhopal. On the other hand, the senior national championship will be hosted by Bhubaneswar from 9-13 March.
However, fears remain that the ministry may not consider the AAI’s tournaments valid as it is awaiting the verdict of the High Court to determine the authenticity of the recent elections held in December 2018 which saw Assam’s BVP Rao named President. It may also hold the funding set aside for the AAI until the court hearing is completed.
The AAI is set to rely in the meanwhile on NTPC Limited for its funding as it will be sponsoring all domestic events as well as providing apparel to the Indian team.
The association is yet to be re-recognised due to which the ministry, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the World Archery Federation are playing a waiting game.
The AAI though, is set to declare the Indian team for the World Championships in Netherlands this year by March while selection trials are to be held in the last week of January. It will also be compiling and publishing the calendar of domestic events for all age groups in order to give athletes’ adequate preparation time.
“After the elections, we had informed both IOA and the ministry. Their concerns will be answered by the court when the hearing comes up. Till then, we can go about our business as usual. We do not need to inform all parties of activities we are set to undertake. For six years now, no proper national tournaments have taken place. There has also not been any EC meeting. The sport has suffered a lot.
“We are still affiliated to the IOA. Only the ministry has de-recognised us. Regarding the funding issue, we will take a call at an appropriate time. I’m hoping that the issues are solved so that we can concentrate on improving the standard of the sport in the country especially with 2019 being a qualifying year for Olympics,” Rao told the news agency.
