Won’t run for 2nd term as IOA chief, says Batra

NEW DELHI: Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra on Wednesday announced that he will not seek re-election for the top job after the Delhi High court declared the posts he held in Hockey India as “illegal”.

Batra had filed his nomination for the IOA president’s post in 2017 as a representative (life member) of Hockey India and won the election. But the Delhi HC on Wednesday declared the position Batra had held in HI as “illegal” since it was not in consonance with the National Sports Code. “The HC said the position Batra had held in Hockey India was illegal,” advocate Anil Soni told PTI when asked about the High Court verdict. Former India hockey player and a member of the 1975 World Cup-winning team, Aslam Sher

Khan had filed a petition in the court, challenging Batra’s appointment as life member of Hockey India. An IOA source said that Batra, while filing his nomination papers for the 2017 elections, was included in the electoral college as Hockey India life member. Within hours of the Delhi HC decision, Batra issued a statement, saying that he will not run for his second term when the IOA elections are held.

Batra did not mention in the statement whether he has resigned as IOA president. He simply said he needs to spend more time as head of International Hockey Federation. The IOA elections, which were to be held in December, have been kept in abeyance due to another pending court case. Batra’s decision means that his membership of International Olympic Committee will also come to an end as the coveted position was linked to his IOA presidency.