IOA DROPS 20 ATHLETES FROM THE ASIAD SQUAD

New Delhi, July 17: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Tuesday dropped 20 athletes from the Pencak Silat team for the upcoming Asian Games, alleging fake credentials, prompting the national federation to threaten legal action.

When the IOA released a list of 524 athletes for the Asian Games on July 5, 22 athletes from Pencak Silat were selected to take part in the Asian Games, now the Olympic body has cleared only two members.

The Games are scheduled to be held in the Indonesian twin cities of Jakarta and Palembang from August 18.

The Indian Pencak Silat Federation (IPSF), unhappy with the decision, said the certificate provided for the two approved athletes are the same as the 20 rejected players.

“While talking with officials of the IOA, they said, ‘we are confirming only two of your female athletes for the Asian Games’,” IPSF, Secretary General, Mufti Hamid Yasin said.

“The IOA told us that the certificates provided by the IPSF are not genuine. While the certificates of 2 selected athletes are from the same championship as the other athletes,” Yasin said.

The IPSF said it demanded clarification from the IOA but got no clear answers.

“We are planning to take legal action. Our players are medal contenders,they have consistently performed well in the sport,” a federation official said.

This is not the first time the IOA has come under the scanner on selection for the Asiand. — PTI