Reports | Delhi HC to supervise national kabaddi selection match after Asiad disappointment

In a first of its kind occurrence, the judiciary will oversee the national selection match for the men’s and women’s kabaddi teams, as per reports that have emerged in The Indian Express. Delhi High Court appointed Justice (retired) SP Garg to supervise the selection match between players who represented India at the Asian Games and those who did not.

Garg has been chosen to be the Delhi HC representative by a bench comprising of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice VK Rao. Last month, the court had asked the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India to hold the selection match after hearing a plea by former India player Mahipal Singh. Singh has alleged wrongdoing in the selection process of both the men and women’s squads that recently travelled to Indonesia for the 2018 Asian Games.

The ex-Indian player approached the High Court after the kabaddi teams were announced for the Asian Games. He made bold claims that the selection process wasn’t conducted fairly, and alleged that certain officials were offered bribes to pick certain players. The Delhi HC decided to intervene and conduct the process following the conclusion of the Asian Games in a bid to check if Mahipal’s allegations were genuine.

The selection game will be conducted between the men and women players who represented India at the Asian Games and will also include those who were ignored from the selection. However, there is a possibility that most players who played the Asiad might skip the match. Reports claim that many players are worried that the game might affect their reputation and may also lead to injury.