Govt refuses to clear athletes of 7 sports for Asian Indoor

The Sports Ministry has refused to clear around 100 players from seven disciplines who were to participate in the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games to be held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from September 17-27.
The players were stopped from travelling to Turkmenistan on the ground that these sporting disciplines were not recognised by the government and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
The national federations of kick boxing, ju-jitsu, traditional wrestling, samboo, belt wrestling, dancesport and muay thai had sent the names of their players to the IOA for the continental event to be held under the aegis of Olympic Council of Asia.

But the Sports Ministry has rejected their participation despite some of these federations wanting to send their players at no cost to the government.
A top official of ju-jitsu Association of India met Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today to request him to allow the participation of his players.
21 ju-jitsu players and four officials were to fly for Ashgabat for the Games but they are facing uncertainty now.

"The reason given by the sports ministry officials is that these sports are neither recognised by the IOA nor in the government list of national federations. But these sports are recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia and if there is an Asian event and if Indians want to take part in these sports, why these players will not be allowed," Ju-Jitsu Association of India Secretary General Chander Mohan Bhatia told PTI.

"Moreover, our players are going for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games at no cost to the government and we are footing our own bill," he added.
He said that there was a government circular of 2014 that said the players should be allowed to take part in international events if it's at no cost to the government even if the national federations are not recognised.
Bhatia said his federation will incur a huge cost if the players are not allowed to take part in the Asian event.
"We have already booked the flight tickets and they are non-refundable. 21 players and four officials of ju-jitsu were to go to Ashgabat for the Games. In total, for the seven sports, I believe there were around 100 players named for the Games," he said.

"I met the new sports minister in New Delhi today and he has assured me that he will look into the issue and take a decision as soon as possible."
More than 6000 athletes and officials will take part in the 12-day 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat.
The Games will feature 21 sports with four of those part of the Olympic Games programme.