South Asian Games row
SHILLONG: In a strong statement, president of the Meghalaya State Badminton Association, Dr W Kharshiing on Tuesday alleged that the badminton event has been “hijacked” by Assam, thus robbing Meghalaya of the opportunity to host the discipline during the upcoming South Asian Games (SAG).
Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, Kharshiing minced no words in stating that ex-Assam Minister and now a BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is the president of the Assam Badminton Association, was primarily responsible for ‘hijacking’ the discipline from Shillong to Guwahati.
Kharshiing also pointed fingers at Badminton Association of India president, Akhilesh Das Gupta, who is also the Vice President of India Olympic Association and Chairman of the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC), for allegedly sabotaging Meghalaya’s bid for badminton. The MSBA president also felt that the fact that the Union Sports Minister was also from Assam did not help Meghalaya’s cause.
It may be mentioned that badminton has been shifted from Shillong due to the shortcoming in the warm up area for the shuttlers at the NEHU, SAI indoor facility, which was scheduled to host the event. The GTCC felt that the concrete flooring at the warm up area would lead to injuries to shuttlers.
Ironically, according to Kharshiing, the DTRP Indoor Stadium at RG Barua Sports Complex in Guwahati, which has been selected as an alternate venue for badminton, also has concrete flooring with synthetic carpet laid on it.
The MSBA president felt that there was no real ground for shifting the discipline from the State capital as the competition manager, who was also a Badminton Association of India member, had after making inspections of the Sport Authority of India, NEHU venue stated that with a few minor changes the venue would be ready to host the SAG badminton event.
“After inspection by the competition manager, as per his instruction, the colour of the paint of the wall was changed and lighting was increased to 1500 lux,” he said adding that despite making all the changes, the venue was shifted on the pretext that the cemented flooring meant for warm up of the shuttlers would result in injuries.
Meanwhile, working president of the Meghalaya State Olympic Association, John F Kharshiing said that as per Organising Committee (SAG) executive committee meeting held in Guwahati on January 2, it was now left to the BAI to take a decision on whether Shillong should host the event as was decided earlier.
“The committee said that there was apprehension from the GTCC (badminton) relating to possible injury to players at the concrete warm up area in NEHU, SAI. The OG urged the MSBA to sort out the matter with BAI,” Kharshiing informed.
The SAG EC meeting was chaired by Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and attended by the SAI DG among others. From MSOA, John Kharshiing and general secretary, Chiranjib Choudhury, were present. Secretary Sports, F R Kharkongor also attended the meeting.
Earlier, the MSBA president had stated that the BAI has said that it was at IOA’s recommendation that the venue has been shifted.
“However, the irony is that BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta is also the vice president of the IOA and chairman of the GTCC. So the same person holding several posts is also creating a problem for Meghalaya,” Dr Kharshiing pointed out.
A formal protest was submitted by the MSOA on the shifting of the event on December 24 last following an emergency meeting. The State Government had on December 23 also written to the IOA and SAG OG among others protesting the move to shift the badminton event.