23 nominations rejected in chess

well. Sunday will be a great game against a great team,” said Inzaghi.

Caicedo broke through just before the interval as the Ecuadorian volleyed home after Parma failed to clear a ball into the box.

Napoli’s struggles continued as they collapsed to a 3-2 defeat at home to Lecce.

Last season’s runners-up had rekindled hopes of European football next season after league wins over Juventus and Sampdoria, and by eliminating Lazio from the Italian Cup.

Chennai, Feb. 10: It was advantage Bharat Singh Chauhan faction after the returning officer for the All India Chess Federation elections rejected nominations of 23 candidates, including that of incumbent president P. R. Venketrama Raja.

Kalifulla had on Sunday rejected the nominations on the grounds that they did not file their nominations in person.

Sources in the Chauhan camp said chances of elections seemed remote as the five candidates whose nominations have been found valid will be elected unopposed. The elections are scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on February 23.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, the returning officer, accepted as valid nominations of five people, all belonging to the camp led by AICF secretary Chauhan.

Chauhan’s camp also includes Gujarat State Chess Association chief Ajay H. Patel, who is running for president.

The former Supreme

Court judge had ruled that the candidature of 23 people was rejected for having failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of para 6.4 of the National Sports Development Code.

According to FIDE Zone

3.7 president R. M. Dongre, who had filed his nomination for the post of secretary from the Raja camp, an appeal would be filed in the court in connection with the rejection of nominations.

The Madras High Court had on January 28 ordered elections of office-bearers of the AICF in Chennai on February

10.

The returning officer had later announced that the elections would be held in Hyderabad on February 23.

Although the candidatures of eight members of the Chauhan section were also cancelled, they have valid nominations for key posts. The list includes Ajay Patel, Chauhan and Naresh Sharma, who are fighting for president, secretary and treasurer posts, respectively. —