Justice Yashwant Verma, while hearing a petition filed by an athlete against the exclusion of athletes selected for the Games, directed the AFI to forward their names to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for further action, saying both the court and the IOA are expected. Keep in mind the set timeline.
AFI’s lawyers informed the court that the vacancy of a player who was part of the Indian team for the relay tournament was disqualified and hence the name of the petitioner would be forwarded in his place.
The Commonwealth Games (CWG) will be held in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August.
“AFI’s learned counsel Shri (Rishikesh) Barua told the court that Arokia Rajiv, an athlete who is part of the 400 relay team, has been disqualified from the test as per the directions,” the court said in the order.
“Accordingly, he submits that in view of the resulting vacancies, the name of the petitioner will be included in the list of players in the Indian Army for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games and will be forwarded,” it added.
The statement said, “Such a statement has been recorded and accepted. Let the AFI send all the details as a result and immediately to the IOA, which can take further effective action. The court further said, “We will keep the petition pending to examine the issues raised in it so that this national patch does not happen again.”
“Considering the material set aside for the hearing and study of the learned lawyers of the parties for some time yesterday, the Court observed that with the points presented in the writ petition, including the question of selection according to the criteria. The right of athletes to train or compete abroad at the time of tests conducted in the country, as determined by the AFI or CWG, will be considered in the waiver process so as to consider a dispute like the one the petitioner has to face. Athletes do not repeat. The court said and set the next hearing for August 25.
The court said that the data argued by the petitioner and the relevant parameters should be kept on record by the affidavit and the AFI as well as the IOA would be given an opportunity to file any affidavit as deemed necessary. The court will outline what points should be considered after hearing the parties at the next opportunity.
Senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for the petitioner, said that as the team left for the event on Thursday, all the necessary formalities related to the petitioner’s inclusion should be completed within a day. The petitioner had moved the High Court last month against his boycott.
Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and Sankaranarayanan had earlier submitted that the petitioner was wrongly excluded despite having a national high jump record (2.29m) and was the only Indian to meet the AFI eligibility standard and the National College Athletic Association. Won the gold medal in this. (NCAA) Track and Field Outdoor Championship 2022 at Eugene, Oregon, USA.
It was also submitted that the petitioner had sought exemption from the interstate championship due to his struggle with the NCAA Championship and had informed the head national coaches via message on WhatsApp.
(With PTI input)
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