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AIFF President Praful Patel said that he will have

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Press Trust of India
consultations with the Sports and other Ministries regarding what the FIFA wanted and prepare a modified draft to be presented to the world body. "I'm going to meet the Sports Minister and other ministers also. We have to make certain changes and represent it to the FIFA. I hope the government agrees to what is wanted by the FIFA. Otherwise this will be a lost chance for us to host the 2017 Under 17 World Cup," he said after delivering inaugural address to the convention. "I had a meeting with FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and General Secretary in Switzerland recently and I had re-iterated India's commitment to hosting the event. The FIFA wants India to host the event to increase the profile of the game in the country," said Patel, who is also the Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. Deb said that the Ministry was yet to receive the new draft from the AIFF. "We don't know what transpired between Praful Patel and the FIFA chief and we have not received any new draft or proposal from the AIFF. But from our side we will do whatever we can as we want India to host the U-17 World Cup," he said. Deb also said the Ministry was waiting for an official communication from the International Olympic Committee on the proposed meeting among the IOA, IOC and the government representative to discuss the issue of IOA's suspension. "We are waiting an official communication from the IOC. We are ready to meet the IOC officials at Lausanne or India wherever they say," the Sports Secretary said. He also said that the Ministry has accepted the Athletics Federation of India's request to hold elections to its president, general secretary and treasurer in April along with its Annual General Body meeting. The AFI in its Special General Body Meeting last month had deleted a contentious clause in its constitution regarding the elections to the president and general secretary and decided reconduct the polls before the end of this month on the directions of the Sports Ministry. (MORE)

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First Published: Feb 14 2013 | 5:55 PM IST

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