Scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi contests Asian Athletics Association elections, says close fight
Mr. Kalmadi's camp is confident of him winning the election and retaining his post as chief - one which he has held since 2000. The argument in Mr. Kalmadi's favour is that though he may have been pushed into a corner in India, he continues to hold a firm grip over sports associations in the Asian continent - several nourished and nurtured by him.
Undeterred by corruption charges and the subsequent court cases for his alleged involvement in the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, Suresh Kalmadi will contest for the post of President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) today.
Talking to NDTV, defiant Mr. Kalmadi today said that the elections will be a close affair. "It's going to be a close fight," he said.
The 69-year-old is re-contesting the elections to retain the post for the fourth consecutive term. He was first elected to the position in 2000 and was re-elected for a third time in 2009. The elections will be held on his home turf - Pune.
Athletics associations from 45 countries will decide the fate of Mr. Kalmadi who is pitted against the Senior Vice-President of the body and also President of the oil-rich Qatar Athletic Association, Brig. Dalham al-Hamad.
Mr. Kalmadi's camp is confident of him winning the election and retaining his post as chief - one which he has held since 2000. The argument in Mr. Kalmadi's favour is that though he may have been pushed into a corner in India, he continues to hold a firm grip over sports associations in the Asian continent - several nourished and nurtured by him. Incidentally, this is the only sports body post (AAA president) that Mr. Kalmadi still holds.
But many sportspersons across the country feel that a tainted Mr. Kalmadi should not have entered the fray, at least till he is proven innocent by legal institutions, if at all.
Former Indian track and field sprinter and the only Indian athlete to win individual athletics gold in Commonwealth Games, Milkha Singh, said that Mr. Kalmadi should remain away from sports administration.
"All of us know about the Commonwealth Games scam and I would ask Mr. Kalmadi to stay away from sports and sports administration," the Flying Sikh said.
Former Indian hockey World Cup winning star Aslam Sher Khan, who has also been a Congress MP and a Union Minister, was also critical of Mr. Kalmadi's decision to take part in elections.
"If Mr. Kalmadi gets re-elected, it will be shameful not just for the Indian sports fraternity but also the Asian Athletics Association," said Mr. Khan.
Former shooter and Olympian, Moraad Ali Khan said that it was not correct on Mr. Kalmadi's part to contest an election as of now and it would be appropriate for him to 'step aside'.
Former Indian athlete Reeth Abraham also echoed the concerns of the Indian sports fraternity.
"We have written to International Athletics Federation and the Asian Association asking them to take some action against Mr. Kalmadi. He has served jail sentence too. What else do they need to take action," said an infuriated Abraham.
However within the Asian body, the Pune MP still seems to enjoy enough support as Maurice Nicholas, secretary-treasurer of the AAA, told NDTV: "There are just charges against Kalmadi and those are yet to be proved in the court. He is still very much like any other member of the association. He has not been proven guilty."