Will administrative mess cost Artistic Gymnastics trials?

CHANDIGARH: Administrative mess-up and blame games continue to take centre stage even as the deadline to conduct trials for next month's World Championships in Artistic Gymnastics ends on Monday. Miffed with the sports ministry's refusal to recognize the Sudhakar Shetty-led Gymnastic Federation of India (GFI), despite backing from the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), a GFI delegation on Saturday called on Indian Olympic Association (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta at the latter's residence in the national capital. Following the meeting, GFI vice-president Narinder More said the IOA had no objection to be a part of the trials. "IOA has no objection in being part of the selection trials if the Sudhakar Shetty-faction agrees to hold it. It was a fruitful meeting with the IOA secretary general at his residence. There has been no communication from the government's side so far, but we are making a continuous effort," More told TOI. "The trials have to be conducted till Monday, we don't have any further extensions. By all means, the final entries will have to sent by Monday evening. There are strict guidelines from the FIG to both IOA and GFI that there won't be any extension to the deadline," More added. Earlier on Saturday, the ministry had written to FIG to allow the committee headed by Indian Olympic Association to select the country's team for the World Championship in Artistic Gymnastics. "The GFI headed by Sudhakar Shetty is charging money for selection and nomination of athletes for competitive events and indulging in rampant favouritism," the Ministry said in the letter addressed to FIG Secretary General Nicolas Buampane. "Any National Sports Federation not adhering to the principles of good governance and transparency, as laid down in the National Sports Development Code of India 2011 (NSDCI), is not entitled to select Indian national team." Olympic quotas will be up for grabs at the World Championship which is scheduled to be held in Stuttgart, Germany from October 4 to 13. Refuting the government's claims of GFI indulging in rampant favouritism, More said the ministry has to come clear on their allegations. "In the court, the ministry says it awaits IOA's reply on recognizing the GFI, and then in their complaint to FIG, the same ministry alleges GFI of charging money for selection and nomination of athletes for competitive events," More said. "We have written to SAI and the ministry on numerous occasions, giving them the green signal to hold the trials on the same line as the trials done during the Asian Championships in June. We have given them the lists of referees and judges but there has been no response from their side. This means the allegations which they are levelling at us should be against the government," he added.