New Delhi, Feb 21: To address the longstanding issue of selection controversies in Indian sports, the sports ministry is set to advocate for video-recorded trials overseen by observers across various disciplines.
The ministry aims to ensure that athletes do not feel unfairly treated during the selection process.
“All selection trials will be conducted under video surveillance to guarantee transparency and fairness. We believe this will significantly reduce the turbulence often associated with sports selections,” a ministry source stated.
This turbulence refers to the disputes that frequently accompany selection processes in the nation, as evidenced when athletes from prominent sports like shooting and wrestling sought legal recourse before last year’s Olympics, alleging bias and lack of transparency in the selection policies.
“Moving forward, selection trials will also include observers. Officials from the ministry and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) will be present throughout the process, and this will be implemented across all sports,” the source elaborated.
“Performance should be the sole criterion for selection. Decisions must be based on merit; federations should not exploit their autonomy to act arbitrarily,” the source added.
The national shooting federation faced significant backlash due to its inconsistent selection policy last year.
Wrestling Issues Under Scrutiny
Indian wrestlers find themselves in a challenging position as their national federation lacks the ministry’s recognition.
They have had to withdraw from one ranking tournament, and their participation in upcoming events remains uncertain due to ongoing legal proceedings against the Wrestling Federation of India.
The ministry is “making every effort” to ensure that the current instability does not negatively impact the athletes.
Designated Office Spaces for Recognized NSFs
Furthermore, the ministry plans to provide office spaces within stadiums in Delhi for recognized National Sports Federations (NSFs) “to facilitate better coordination and support for athletes.” Many national federations had previously operated out of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium before relocating due to renovation works for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. (Agencies)
