Archery News: World archery threatens to suspend AAI

Just when one thought that the Archery Association of India elections would end the longstanding impasse in the sport, the world body added its name to that of the sports ministry and the Indian Olympic Association in the list of entities not happy with the way the polls were conducted last month. In a letter to BVP Rao, elected president in the election held on December 22, World Archery secretary general wrote that their main objection was that the constitution, according to which the polls were conducted, was “never formally approved” by the AAI General Body. He mentioned suspension of the Indian federation as one of the consequences. With a year and a half left for the Tokyo Olympics and qualification spots up for grabs in various events starting this year, this could be bad news for Indian archers, but Rao said the domestic competition schedule, including the national championships and trials scheduled for February and March, will be held as per plan. The world body has asked for the complete details of the proceedings on election day and those in the Delhi High Court where the matter will come up next month. As of now, the office-bearers elected on December 22 under the supervision of court-appointed administrator SY Quraishi will not be able to select teams for international competitions. The IOA had also written to the world archery body that it didn’t approve of the election and had not sent its observer. Apart from the new AAI constitution not being approved by its General Body, the IOA pointed out that it didn’t conform to the Sports Code. Quraishi’s constitution borrowed heavily from the revised draft of the Sports Code and Justice Lodha’s recommendations for BCCI reforms. Rao said he will do whatever he can for the archers, but added that the issue was not about him.