Latest news with #IndianOlympicAssociation
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
State's first ‘Purple fest' held in JSR
1 2 Jamshedpur:The state's first 'Purple Fair', for people with disabilities, was held in the Steel City on Sunday. The day-long event witnessed overwhelming participation from the 'divyang'people. Over 600 people, including 50 'divyangs',participated in the event, organised jointly by the central and stategovt's department of empowerment of persons with disability in association with the Composite Regional Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Ranchi and the EastSinghbhumdistrict administration. State disability commissioner AbhayNandanAmbastha said, "The event focused on promoting inclusivity and celebrating the abilities of people with disabilities. It also served as a platform to showcase talents and expose the target section to the skill development opportunities and job avenues." The organisers felicitated the four Olympians who had won medals in the Berlin Paralympics 2023. The Indian Olympic Association organised 12 sporting events for the participants so that they were motivated to take up sports and make a career of it. The event also saw symbolic distribution of assistive devices to 28 differently abled people.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sudden buzz around Indian sport mostly box-ticking
Much activity whirled around Indian sport last week – the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 (NSGB) was tabled in parliament, a new National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025 made its appearance too and the 19-month ruckus in the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) between president PT Usha and the executive council – over the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer – suddenly dissolved, Usha brushing everything off as 'small internal disputes'. The 19-month ruckus in the IOA between president PT Usha and the executive council – over the appointment of CEO Raghuram Iyer – dissolved last week. (PTI) At an IOA briefing, there were glimpses of what drove the developments and the bonhomie. IOA joint secretary Kalyan Chaubey, also president of the beleaguered All India Football Federation (AIFF), said IOA's vision was 'to ensure India wins the bid' (to host the 2036 Olympics). He said, IOA would do 'whatever required – that comes with athlete development… good governance… better infrastructure facilities developed… educate athletes in terms of anti-doping… NADA needs to be more equipped to hold more sessions… ensure more sports conclaves… better coordination with all the stakeholders… Whatever is essential to host a big event I think IOA should do and will do.' Promising, forward thinking, a new dawn for Indian sport, etc. Excuse please, hold the beer, sorry, protein shake, because other kinds of news is disturbing this positivity. Qatar formally launched its Olympics2036 bid with a 16-page press kit saying 95 percent of its Olympic venues were 'already in place and tested at the highest level'. Its Instagram reel then showed visuals from the 2022 FIFA World Cup and world championships in athletics (2019), swimming (2024), artistic gymnastics (2025) and the 2025 table tennis world championships finals – all held in Doha, Qatar's 2036 candidate city. In the past ten years, India's list of global sports events hosted is thus: two men's (zero women's) hockey World Cups in Odisha, two shooting World Cup Finals in New Delhi and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Last week, alongside Chaubey's rah-rah and Doha2036's Instareel came word that only six of 12 Indian badminton players could compete at the World University Games – because Association of Indian Universities (AIU) officials had not submitted a complete list. Then, according to an India Today report, an unnamed player said AIU officials, angry about their public outing, threatened players saying their 'careers will end once we return to India'. Then two more female runners didn't find their name on the start list – totalling eight Indians who couldn't compete at the Universiade due to official carelessness. The AIU suspended its joint secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon but opportunities are already lost. Chaubey's careful listing of the 'essentials' to host 'a big event' is like investing in sandcastles. Indian sport needs these elements to actually nourish its ecosystem from the roots – like cleaning up the damn beach to start with. This sudden buzz around Indian sport is mostly a rapid box-ticking – because that's what IOA was told needed to be addressed when its delegation met the International Olympic Committee (IOC) early this month. The meeting was meant to present – sans public discussion - Ahmedabad's 2036 candidacy. Instead, IOA was told to sort out its in-fighting, address India's proliferation of dope positives and up its sporting performance. Therefore, the IOA peace summit and the push for the two bills around sports governance and anti-doping. Improving athletic performance will mean IOA and national sporting federations (NSF) focusing on athletes over 'big events', so let's not hold our breaths. There lie reveals in the new NSGB as well. It aims for structural changes in how Indian sport is run and creates an independent regulatory body. The National Sports Board is meant to take over overseeing NSF operations from the government. Plus, sporting disputes will now be handled by a National Sports Tribunal, not the civil courts. (As of February, our courts list 217 ongoing sports cases.) Reasonable ideas both. But let's compare the October 2024 draft of the governance bill released for public feedback with what is now in parliament. To start with the NSGB25 is a pared down version of the draft – 9,243 bill-specific words to the draft's detailed 16,210. A simple draft read through shows the clause about at least one female vice-president in IOA's EC has gone missing from NSGB. Surprise, surprise. Now quibbling, but the 'at least 30%' women clause in this 15-member EC has been turned into a 'minimum of four' (26.6%). One less woman's the better, I suppose. The clause that an office-bearer could serve no more than two consecutive terms – on average eight years – in any post is now three terms, followed by a four-year cooling off. That's twelve years, plus there is no maximum number of terms – the candy clause for all sports administrators under 65. Only when an individual crosses 70 at the time of filing nominations for an election will their side careers as sports officials cease. Setting term limits on return post cooling was argued as stifling the expertise and impact of Indian sports' admin brokers globally. Currently, outside of cricket, the Indians holding posts ('cooling off') in international federations are Adille Sumariwalla, vice-president of World Athletics, Malav Shroff, president Asian Sailing Federation and Virendra Nanavati, bureau member World Aquatics. Neeraj Chopra & Ors gives Sumariwalla a pass of sorts but Shroff and Nanavati's international 'influence' has created zero ripple in home waters. NSGB means groundhogs and their days will return. The 'autonomy' of sports federations has ensured the NSGB axe for draft clauses that had seemed appropriate for India's politically interwoven sporting system. This is the deleted clause: 'An individual shall be disqualified from being an Individual Member or a representative of a Voting Member (in an NOC/NSF) upon conviction of an offence and being sentenced for a period of more than 2 (two) years.' Whereas, even under the Constitution, anyone convicted and sentenced for two years cannot contest elections for six years. But Indian sport is a free-for-all anyway, so why can't convicted individuals get a clear run here, eh? There's big events to be conducted.
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Sharath Kamal Calls For 'Structured' System In Order To Bolster TT In The Nation
Last Updated: The 43-year-old iterated that promise alone is not enough and added that a system that supports long-term growth is of essence. Seasoned Indian TT player Sharath Kamal opined that a well-defined system for the sport would help the nation to help the transition of young talents to senior professionals. The 43-year-old iterated that promise alone is not enough and added that a system that supports long-term growth is of essence to help young talent make a successful leap to the senior level despite promising results. 'We can't rely on one-off stars, we need a structure that consistently produces champions," Sharath said. 'There's a lot of young talent, but the key issue lies in the transition. Unless we put the right systems in place, we won't see junior champions turn into senior champions," he continued. India secured three bronze medals at the 2024 Asian Championships, marking a historic first in women's doubles with Ayhika and Sutirtha Mukherjee, and achieving a maiden bronze in the women's team event. At the Paris Olympics, the women's team reached the quarterfinals for the first time, surprising world No. 4 Romania in the round of 16. In singles, both Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula made it to the last 16. 'The real challenge is consistency. One medal must become two, and that must grow into five or six," Sharath said. A systematic pipeline, starting with kids as young as 11, would help in supplying a consistent lie of talent to the to level of the sport in India. 'Looking at 2036, we must start with kids who are 11 or 12 now. That's how deep the planning has to go," he added. 'We're all trying in that direction. I hope we'll see a systematic change soon." Sharath, the Vice Chairman of the Indian Olympic Association's Athletes Commission, lauded the National Sports Bill which focuses on a athlete-first framework and also touched up on anti-doping provisions. 'Having athletes participate in policymaking alongside executive board members marks a new phase for Indian sport. It ensures that decisions are grounded in on-ground realities," the paddler said. 'This time, it won't just be athletes who are penalised, but also coaches and others involved. Often, the athlete is the one caught, while others continue unchecked. That will now change." (With Inputs From PTI) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
IOA panel to urge ministry for criminal law on doping substance peddlers
The seven-member committee of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), set up to tackle doping in the country, will recommend the sports ministry to pass a law that will make peddling of performance-enhancing drugs and selling banned substances in open market a criminal activity. IOA executive council member Rohit Rajpal, who is heading the panel, said organised drug rackets have been playing a part in the dope menace and the committee will make guidelines and recommendations to deal with the matter in a very aggressive manner. "The IOA is very serious about the doping menace. We (the panel) want to recommend the sports ministry to make a law so that peddling of performance-enhancing drugs and selling these banned substances in open market become a criminal activity. Let's see," Rajpal, a former India tennis player, told PTI on Thursday. The panel was formed after India's poor doping record was flagged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during a national delegation's visit to push for the 2036 Olympic bid. India had last month topped the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2023 testing figures among countries which analysed 5,000 or more samples with a high positivity rate of 3.8 per cent for banned substances. Former Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla was the one who had advocated making use of performance-enhancing substances a criminal offence, but drug cheats are still not liable for penal action under existing Indian laws. Rajpal, a former Davis Cupper, made it clear that he was not talking about making athletes liable to penal action for doping. "I am not talking about the athletes but about the drug peddlers. The amount of banned and performance-enhancing drugs available in the market is too high. And organised rackets pushed these drugs all over the country," he said. "Many of our athletes are from humble backgrounds and don't have much awareness about which drug is permissible to be used and which is banned. That is a problem and we have to work on that aspect also," added Rajpal, who is also the IOA Anti-Doping chairman. He said that coaches also play a big role in this menace. Earlier, while addressing an IOA press conference, Rajpal talked about "holistic doping prevention programme" that his committee will look at. "In recent months there has been growing global spotlight on doping and the challenges athletes face in navigating complex anti-doping rules. While India has made significant strides in the fight against doping through the efforts of NADA, federations and athlete support teams, it is clear that much more needs to be done at grassroots and education level. "People who are pushing these kind of supplements or performance enhancing drugs, which are second and third generation in this country, it's become an organised racket pushing these drugs all over the country and the athletes mostly don't even know what they are having. "So, all these areas are going to be attacked by all of us in a very aggressive manner and hopefully we will have a free and fair sport going forward," he said. He said the IOA is launching a dedicated anti-doping education programme with immediate effect. "The committee will be responsible for designing and rolling out a sustained anti-doping education and awareness campaign targeting athletes at all levels from grassroots to elite, coaches and support staff, federation administrators and sports officials and most importantly parents and guardians of young athletes. "The idea here is that through education and awareness, we are going to try to reach the last corner of this country to educate athletes as to what they are using. "At the same time, there are labs that are being at the moment looked into and analysed. When they can come, more and more testing can happen and those labs can be accredited for this programme," said Rajpal who has earlier served at NADA Anti-Doping Panels. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
IOA differences resolved, CEO appointment ratified
New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association's executive council, led by president PT Usha, announced on Thursday that it has resolved all internal differences, marking an end to the prolonged standoff. The council members put up a unified front and said they would work together towards India's bid for the 2036 Olympics. Indian Olympic Association President P.T. Usha, second right, talks with Chief Executive Officer Raghuram Iyer during a joint press conference in New Delhi. (AP) IOA CEO Raghuram Iyer, whose appointment was the major bone of contention between Usha and the executive council (EC), sat with the EC members and also addressed the media. IOA Sr vice president Ajay Patel, treasurer Sahdev Yadav, vice president Gagan Narang, joint secretary Kalyan Cahubey and Alaknanda Ashok, and EC members Amitabh Sharma, Harpal Singh, Rohit Rajpal, Dola Banerjee and athletes commission vice chairperson Sharath Kamal were present. 'Everything has been sorted and that is why we have IOA CEO sitting with us. Whatever small internal disputes were there have been resolved,' Usha told reporters. 'We are focussing on the long term goal of transforming India into a global sporting powerhouse. By 2036 we not only want to achieve sustained Olympic success but also bring the Olympic Games to India,' said Usha. The functioning of the IOA had been severely impacted since the appointment of Raghuram Iyer as CEO in January last year. Members of the EC had refused to ratify his appointment, objecting to his pay package of ₹20 lakh per month along with additional perks. The International Olympic Council (IOC) had raised concerns about governance in IOA when an Indian delegation in which Usha and Iyer were also part of, met them in Lausanne to discuss India's bid for the 2036 Olympics. The CEO has an important strategic and administrative role to play in the bid process. It has now been learnt that Iyer's salary has been adjusted a bit but it will be paid from last year January onwards when he was appointed. The truce was reached in the last few days as Sports Minister Manuskh Mandivya helped break the deadlock between Usha and the EC members. Usha too reached out to her colleagues and opened the channels for discussion. It is learnt that a Special General Meeting will be soon called to discuss and approve long pending issues. There are also several financial bills and pending salaries that require approval. The EC members will have a lot at hand in looking after various IOA committees. IOA joint secretary Chaubey said that Iyer's appointment had been ratified at a EC meeting on Thursday. 'There was an EC meeting today and we discussed a lot of things including Raghu Iyer's appointment and that is why he is sitting here among us. 'There have been some differences between us and letters were also exchanged (EC and Usha). But in democracy, there is always a difference of opinion. No house, no organization can completely be flawless. We want to look forward,' said Chaubey. Treasurer Sahdev Yadav also said whatever 'little dispute and differences' were there have been sorted. 'We are all together. We are looking ahead to the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and our Olympic and CWG bid,' said Yadav. Iyer, who was part of the Indian delegation in Lausanne, said the meeting with the IOC was very positive. 'It was attended by the top brass of IOC and the follow up would be that they would come down to India at some point in time very soon. 'We are at the stage of continuous dialogue with the IOC and they informed us a lot about sustainability, athlete-centric work and a lot on the legacy plan in a workshop. As you know, the IOC has a new leader who is driving some changes within the organisation. They are in a pause and reflect mode (with regards to selection of future Olympic host cities).' On Qatar's bid for the 2036 Games, he said, 'it will be premature to say anything because there are still countries jumping in.' As IOA athlete commission vice chairperson, table tennis legend Sharath said IOA will launch athlete centric programmes, aimed at developing structures for mental health support, career-transition guidances and training access beyond the competitive years. 'We will also try to create mentorship, and leadership programmes for our athletes.' A drive will be launched on August 29 -- National Sports Day -- to try and get 10 million children to play any sport. Anti-doping programmes have also been planned.
