CHENNAI: With the Archery Association of India (AAI) still derecognised due to its failure to accept the Sports Code (age and tenure rules), the Asia Cup Stage 1, scheduled to be held from January 31 to February 6 in New Delhi, has turned out to be the first casualty of the year. Holding an event of this magnitude should have been of paramount importance, but it’s hardly surprising to note that the ones who’ll suffer most due to this are the archers.
The AAI had received entries from five countries out of 12 overall, but without the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and funds from the sports ministry, they had to pull the plug.
The event has been postponed by at least a month or two, till the AAI can hold elections in March to sort out the matter once and for all. But there’s a fair chance they will not get clearance from World Archery Asia (WAA) when they’re finally on the right side of the law and ready. The AAI is one of the few National Sports Federations (NSF) that has not made necessary changes.
The AAI wrote to the WAA citing ‘reasons beyond their control’ for postponement, but a source in the know told Express the ministry could’ve helped the federation save face by giving them a green signal instead.
“It’s obviously impossible to hold it without help from the ministry. There are too many variables to consider. But it’s surprising that they couldn’t even help when it came to an Asian-level tourney. Hamari naak kitni kati hai, woh sirf hum jante hain (only we know how much of an embarrassment this has caused to the federation and nation).”
This is the third event organised by the AAI to have been pushed back from scheduled dates. Last month, the sub-junior nationals in Vijayawada was apparently postponed due to effects of demonetisation, while the senior nationals in Chennai met a similar fate after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa passed away. These two events have been rescheduled for February.
The AAI might not get the chance to hold the Asia Cup in the end, but the source added that the federation feels confident India possesses the infrastructure to hold one of the World Cup Stages in future. “Having witnessed many of the World Cup Stages, it’s safe to say we can do a better job than any of the four cities that currently have that honour.”
rohan@newindianexpress.com