Irregularities in Selection of Sports Persons

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports

02-December-2014 15:47 IST

Irregularities in Selection of Sports Persons

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has said that promotion and development of sports is the responsibility of the State Governments and the National Sports Federation (NSF) concerned. NSFs are autonomous bodies registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The Government does not interfere in their day-to-day affairs which include holding of sports events, selection of players, etc. However, Government has laid down that, for selecting sports-persons for participating in different sports competitions, the Selection Committee should consist of the President of the concerned NSF, the National Coach and a representative of the Indian Olympic Association.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha today Shri Sonowal said, during the past, complaints in selection of players in the disciplines of Equestrian, Wrestling, Para Table Tennis, Badminton etc. were received. While such complaints were dealt with in consultation with the NSFs, Sports Authority of India and other stakeholders, year-wise and sport discipline-wise data is not maintained.

The Minister said, to bring transparency in the selection of sports persons, Government on 6.8.2014 has issued instructions, to all the major NSFs to place on their website, various details of the international events held in India and abroad such as notification of selection criteria for such events well in advance along with the details of time and venue for selection, list of core probables and basis of their selection, details of coaching camps organized including venue, dates and list of participants, list of the athletes selected, performance criteria which formed the basis of selection, actual performance in terms of timing, distance, etc. and the position obtained by each athlete/team etc. These instructions have also been made an integral part of the National Sports Development Code of India.