Archery fiasco: Two factions blame each other for current mess

The two parallelly elected bodies of the Archery Association India (AAI) Wednesday engaged in mudslinging after the game's world body has de-listed the the national federation as a member and given it a month's time to either get its house in order or face suspension.

World Archery said it will wait till July 31 before deciding on AAI's suspension. WA will wait for the Supreme Court's verdict on the controversial elections of the AAI.

The decision to de-list AAI will not prevent Indian archers from taking part in international events under the national flag in competitions for which entries have already been made.

WA had earlier tried to intervene by sending vice-president Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol as a "mediator" to have a unified election but the talks to bring the two factions together failed as both the groups went ahead with separate but simultaneous elections in New Delhi and Chandigarh on June 9 to elect two presidents Union Minister Arjun Munda and retired IAS officer BVP Rao.

Expressing wonder and displeasure over WA's decision, secretary general of the Munda-led faction Virendra Sachdeva blamed the situation on Rao-led group.

"A small group of people have unnecessarily started a controversy by claiming that they have conducted an election of the AAI. These individuals have created confusion among the member state Archery Associations and other world bodies with a view to defer the elections of the Association," Sachdeva said.

"The Indian Olympic Association has recognised the elections held on June 9 at New Delhi. We are hopeful that World Archery would also recognise us sometime soon. A matter is pending in the Supreme Court and is likely to be listed on reopening of the Court after the summer vacation. We are awaiting the outcome of the matter and will proceed accordingly thereafter," he added.

Rao, on the other hand, squarely blamed the 'mess' on former AAI president Vijay Kumar Malhotra and added that he has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the matter.

"World Archery is fed up with postponements of elections for the last three years. The current crisis of two elections is also a plan of Malhotra to get get his henchmen Virendra Sachdeva as secretary general unopposed," he said.

"So the buck should stop at Malhotra's door. I have written to the Prime Minister about it. I only hope the PM intervenes to resolve this crisis in the national interest.

"The sole reason for this mess is Malhotra's intense desire to hold on to Indian Archery even after four decades, which delayed the election that was due in 2016."
Terming it a big blow for Indian archery, Lalremsanga Chhangte, a two-time Olympian from Mizoram, said: "We have already qualified for the Olympics and now if they suspend the federation then there will be a question mark on India's participation. Hope better sense prevails and there will be one election."