Malhotra accuses Govt of 'double standards'

 Archery Association of India (AAI) president Vijay Kumar Malhotra on Thursday accused the government of employing “double standards” and said its de-recognition of the federation has not affected their functioning.

The government had de-recognised AAI last year for violating the age and tenure guidelines of the government’s sports code in its elections. The sports code curtails the age and tenure to 70 years and three terms.

Malhotra, 81, said the government de-recognition did not matter much to them and they had full support of the international body, FITA. “De-recognition of a federation is not an ideal situation but the archers are not suffering. The world body is supporting us.

It has ratified our elections and we are competing in most of the international competitions under the Indian flag, so the government’s recognition or de-recognition does not matter much," Malhotra told reporters after the AAI's Executive Committee meeting here.

However, the Indian archers would not be able to participate under the national flag in two international tournaments -- Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in July and Asian Youth Games in August. “They will then participate under the OCA flag,” Malhotra said.
The BP leader said the government had limited its help to funding the archers for the international tournaments.

“For international tournaments, government fund the archers directly. In the domestic tournaments, the federation finances them for all the National and ranking tournaments. We are also getting sponsors as our archers are doing well,” he said.

Malhotra was bemused that while the Sports Ministry recognises him as Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, it does not recognise him as the AAI president and has de-recognised the body.

"It is very surprising that recently in response to a RTI, the ministry said it recognises me as the president of the IOA. But it does not recognise me as the AAI president and has also derecognised the AAI. It is ministry’s double standards," said Malhotra.