CSI recalled that in the recent history, Indian Olympic Movement controlled by infamous Suresh Kalmadi, there was never such a decision considering a former sports person for such position.
In fact, most Chef de Missions of Indian contingents to Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games were always a politician or a bureaucrat.
CSI recalled how Kalmadi had appointed Assam Pradesh Congress President Bubhneshwer Kalita, who was also a functionary of IOA, as the Chief de Mission of Indian Contingent to scandalous Commonwealth Games.
CSI is well aware of the political pressure that IOA came under to appoint a sports politician as Chief de Mission.
CSI National Convener BVP Rao thanked Acting President of IOA Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Secretary General IOA Randhir Singh for resisting political pressures and taking such bold decision to an Olympian as Chief de Mission.
CSI hopes that the appointment of one of the greatest hockey captain of India, Ajit Pal Singh, as our Chief de Mission to London Games would set a trend of sporting governing bodies giving due space to former sports persons in the management of sports. PTI ATK
