Reports : Indian archers likely to compete under World Archery and not Tricolour
Odisha Sports | Twitter
According to reports from TOI, the Indian archers participating in the 2019 World Archery Championships in Netherlands could be competing under the banner of the international body and not the nation. This is because of the warring factions failing to get a president elect after weeks.
Things have been taken to extremities by the two Archery Association of India (AAI) bodies. While the group having the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) backing has Arjun Munda being elected as the AAI president and Virendra Sachdeva as secretary general in Delhi, the other camp has elected BVP Rao and Maha Singh as its president and secretary general. All the office-bearers were elected unanimously.Â
The WA had previously tried solving the matter by threatening suspension but to no avail. And now , it has been reported powerful secretary general Tom Dielen hasn’t seen the electoral proceedings very kindly and could be asking the Indian team management to compete under the World Archery banner.Â
The world championships is an important competition for India’s recurve archers like Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das, who could qualify for the Olympics from here. India have a 12-member contingent present in Hertogenbosch.Â
The only way the Indian archers could continue under the tri colour banner would be if the team management requested WA not to implement for this particular championship as it has already started. The next Indian archers' assignment might, however, not be under the national flag.
India’s sports ministry didn’t bother sending an observer to either of the elections and has left the matter for hearing at the Delhi high court in July. The two election reports would be submitted before the court before the Delhi High court decided about giving recognition to one of the groups.
