SAI wants SGFI suspended

NEW DELHI:

Sports Authority of India

(

SAI

) has called for the suspension of the

School Games Federation of India

(

SGFI

) and a show cause notice to be issued to the Agra-based institution.


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SAI has held the federation responsible for the death of a 15-year-old girl footballer from Delhi who was part of the Indian contingent at the unsanctioned Pacific School Games in Adelaide last December.

Double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar is the president of the SGFI. The Games were neither recognised by the International School Sports Federation (ISSF) nor sanctioned by the sports ministry and SAI.

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“Since SGFI acted outside the purview of their Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) by sending the contingent for the Games without any authorization of government of India, ministry of youth affairs and sports, their recognition may be suspended and they should be issued a show cause notice,” read an excerpt from the report which has been accessed by TOI.

Completing its probe into the matter, SAI recommended that to avoid a repeat of such instance in the future, “no sports federation may be permitted to send the Indian team/contingent for international sports events without the clearance from the government and sports ministry”. It added that the “requirement of NOC from the sports ministry may be made mandatory for international sports events where the Indian contingents are sent by the sports federations”.

The tragic incident happened on December 10 in Adelaide when

Nitisha Negi

and four other girl footballers were swept away by a huge wave at the Glenelg Beach. While the local surf lifesavers were able to rescue four girls, Nitisha’s body was recovered the next morning. The football coach associated with the girls’ team, Virender Singh, is facing departmental inquiry by the Delhi government.

The Games were marred by another controversy when Indian U-16 girls’ hockey team protested against the lack of facilities at the venue. SGFI had fielded U-18 teams in six disciplines in the invitational event.