Commonwealth Games 2018 | 325-member Indian contingent approved by sports ministry

SportsCafe Desk
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After days of controversies pertaining to the presence of ‘extra officials’ from India at the CWG Gold Coast, the Sports Ministry has now approved a 325-member India contingent. The sports minister has also assured that he will have another look at government’s policy of clearing extra officials.

India’s massive 325-member contingent that will visit Australia next month will comprise 221 athletes, 17 doctors and physiotherapists, 58 coaches, seven managers and 22 other officials. As has been the tradition, India will see its maximum representation in Athletics and Shooting in individual disciplines where they have sent 31 and 27 participants respectively. The second biggest representation would come in weightlifting and wrestling, which has 16 and 12 contenders respectively. 

India has perhaps their biggest chance of winning a medal in badminton that will see 10 Indian shuttlers fighting it out for the top podium finish, which would comprise the likes of men’s World No. 2 Kidambi Srikanth, and women’s World No. 3 PV Sindhu.

"Expenditure of the above cited Indian contingent will be borne by SAI from funds made available to it under the Scheme of Assistance to NSFs as per the Annexure II. SAI will nominate a nodal officer for this activity that will be responsible to coordinate with the MYAS, NADA, IOA, Balmer and Lawrie etc," the Sports Ministry released in a statement.

"The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Sports Authority of India, (SAI), National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), and concerned NSFs may take appropriate measures for conducting the dope tests. IOA may also ensure medical fitness of the team/individual sportspersons prior to their departure," it further read.

The last few weeks preceding the CWG has been filled with the ongoing feud between the sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) pertaining to the presence of ‘extra officials’ from Indian contingent. 

Things turned worse after IOA President Narinder Batra lashed out at the ministry for bringing up “unnecessary issues” and also stated to apply same standards for its own bureaucrats. And Rathore hasn’t overlooked the issue, as per TOI reports. The Sports minister has assured that he would look into the government policies again.

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