In a major relief for the sportspersons of Haryana, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has allowed Haryana players to participate in the 35th National games in Kerala under the banner of IOA instead of Haryana Olympic Association.
Haryana Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Vij said here that the Executive Committee, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had taken this decision to protect the interests of the players in view of the dispute brewing between the two factions of the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA). “I have received a letter in this regard from Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General, IOA,” Vij added.
The IOA has constituted a three-member committee to sponsor participation of Haryana teams under the banner of the IOA. Rakesh Gupta, Joint Secretary, IOA, is chairman of the committee. The other two members are Dalel Singh, Arjuna Awardee, Director of Sports, Kurukshetra University and one nominee of Haryana Government.
Vij said that the committee would send entries of teams and the accreditation form to the organizing committee of the National Games. Names of the qualifying teams for different games have already been intimated by the National Sports Federation to concerned state sports associations. The state government would recommend the name of a senior sports official to be included in the committee for sending entries to the organizing committee and to make such arrangements as travelling, kitting of teams etc. This work would be done by the IOA Office, New Delhi, he added.