The Allahabad High Court's direction to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to consider the plea of the Handball Federation of India (HFI) will see the participation of the Indian men's handball team in the upcoming Asian Games.
A bench of justice Vikram Nath and justice Rajesh Singh Chauhan had passed the order yesterday on a PIL moved by HFI filed through its secretary N N Pandey.
The petitioner had alleged that despite there being an administrative and financial sanction for the Indian Handball Team to participate in the Asian Games 2018, IOA on May 25, 2018 passed an order, saying that only the top eight teams were allowed to take part in the August 18 to September 2 Asian Games in Indonesia.
The Indian men's team had finished 12th in the Asian Championships but five countries -- Australia, Uzbekistan, China, Oman and UAE -- which were placed above India are not taking part in the Asian Games.
Considering all facts and circumstances, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court directed IOA to reconsider its decision.