Olympians express shock over Randhir Singh-Abhay Chautala alliance
Beijing Games gold medallist Abhinav Bindra is sad that the Indian Olympic Association is not showing intent to reform its constitution even as the country's Olympic future hangs in the balance.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: October 31, 2013 09:29 pm IST
The surprise alliance between Abhay Chautala and India's representative at the International Olympic Committee Randhir Singh, which keeps India's Olympic future in doubt, has drawn criticism from Olympians. The two agreed to work together to resolve the impasse between the IOC and the Indian Olympic Association.
Shooter Abhinav Bindra, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist, expressed shock with IOA's latest move.
"Saddened by the clear lack of intent for any meaningful reforms by the IOA to bring India back to the Olympic fold. God save Indian sports," Bindra tweeted.
The IOC had clearly stated that it does not recognize the Chautala faction and was corresponding only with VK Malhotra and Randhir. This alliance means that now there's no opposition to the Chautala camp.
Indian Olympic Association has still not complied with the IOC diktat that charge-sheeted officials should be barred from contesting in elections. IOC had given India a deadline of October 31 to amend their constitution and December to hold fresh elections. This now means a further delay in India's return to the Olympic fold, and even possible disaffiliation.
Former Asian Games silver medallist Manisha Malhotra said, "Randhir switching camps is disheartening for the athletes. Randhir being a former Olympian should have understood the plight of the athletes."
Former athlete Ashwini Nachappa said the news of the alliance came as a "shock" to her but what she has heard is that Randhir Singh is still working for the athletes. Nachappa, Clean Sports India president, on Monday said that the IOC should expel the Indian body for continuing to defy its guidelines on good governance and form an ad-hoc body to carry forward the Olympic movement in the country.
A host of current and former Indian athletes had sent a petition to former IOC president Jacques Rogge, to clean up Indian sports. They are now going to send a fresh petition to new president Thomas Bach.
Randhir Singh's primary objective now will be to try and convince the IOC to listen to the IOA's side of the story. But as things stand the international body is not likely to give in to the IOA's demands.