Eventing gets IOA nod, show jumping ‘dropped’ for Asiad
CHENNAI : The suspense over the equestrian team’s participation at the upcoming Asian Games in Jakarta is finally over. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced a 524-member contingent from various disciplines on Tuesday and a four-member eventing team will be travelling to Indonesia. Football, meanwhile, has been left out from the list that has 277 men and 247 women athletes from a total of 36 sports disciplines. Early June, Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) had annulled a selection of seven participants for the Asian Games after controversy arose over non-selection of dressage team.
EFI had announced a list of seven athletes (four in eventing and three in show jumping) but was nullified two days later by EFI president Ashok Ambre on June 5. IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta too had a meeting with the EFI secretary and had said that India might not send a team since some of the athletes did not achieve the qualification mark. However, the the EFI after a long deliberation decided to reconvene the selection committee meeting.
There they selected seven members once again — four for eventing and three for show jumping. When the list was sent to the IOA, it was understood that the Olympic body agreed to on the four who had better qualification standards in eventing. The other three were discussed with the IOA secretary general, but no decision has been taken. “IOA’s stand is that they don’t want to send a show jumping team because they don’t have international exposure. That is not acceptable as two of the athletes’ qualification mark was equivalent to silver and bronze of Incheon Games.
They should understand that in equestrian, it is not just about the athlete. If we have to participate in an international event, even the horse has to travel. With less money, how can they expect the athletes to spend from their pocket? It is unfair if the athletes are not given a chance. We have had a discussion with IOA secretary Rajeev Mehta and let’s hope that they can make the cut” EFI secretary general RK Swain told Express. Mehta confirmed that a discussion was held on Tuesday.
“We spoke about it today and heard their side of the story. We will take a decision after meeting with top IOA officials,” he said. The four-member eventing team are training in France and Germany and all their expenses will be met by the government and few corporate sponsors.
AIFF miffed
AIFF has still decided to fund the men’s and women’s team in Jakarta. “We don’t need to beg the IOA. If they cannot understand the situation, we will go our way. Around `60 lakhs will be the expense for the women’s team alone who are in a camp right now. There is no decision on the men’s team yet and nothing has been finalised,” AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said. vimalsankar@newindianexpress.com