Asian Games 2018 | Indian contingent yet to be decided by Ministry with just 10 days left
The Sports ministry of India is yet to take a decision regarding the size of India’s contingent that will fly to Jakarta for the Asian Games 2018. There have been speculations that the decision is delayed because the ministry is not happy with Raj Kumar Sancheti, as one of the deputy chiefs.
India have had an eventful few weeks since the day the initial contingent was announced. From the IOA cutting and slashing athletes from various disciplines at will, asking the non-affiliated few to pay for their own uniforms, to various sports federations moving to court over selection issues, the media has been buzzing with their antics.
All this has affected many things and more importantly kept the Sports Ministry’s hands tied till the eleventh hour. Now, with only 10 days to go for the extravagant event, the contingent is yet to be finalized. After numerous alterations, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) submitted a list of 575 athletes and 213 officials to the Sports Ministry on Monday and the ministry hasn’t finished working on the final official list yet.
“It may take a day or two to give the final clearance of the contingent,” said a source from the sports ministry, reported PTI.
It has also been reported that the ministry has been delaying the decision because they are unhappy with Raj Kumar Sancheti, who has been named as one of the Deputy Chief of the contingent that shall be sent to Jakarta. In 2013, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) had recommended registration of disproportionate assets case against Sacheti in the wake of the 2010 CWG corruption scandal.
He had worked as the Joint Director-General in the 2010 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee and was one of the aides of former IOA President and head of 2010 CWG Organising Committee Suresh Kalmadi, who was jailed and then released on bail.
It has also been reported that the Indian Olympic Association has taken a decision to send Sancheti to Jakarta at its own cost, in case the ministry asked them to exclude him from the contingent.