Flip-flop on late fee: Gymnast in the lurch

NEW DELHI: Gymnast Ashish Kumar’s participation in next month’s World Cup at Baku, Azerbaijan is in doubt following disagreement with the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI) over payment of late entry fee.

Ashish, who won silver in 2010 Commonwealth Games, too hasn’t helped matters as he did not update the GFI on his participation before the definitive (by number) deadline of January 8 but expressed interest to compete in the last week of January. The nominative (by name) entry too closed on February 8.

Now, Ashish’s coach is asking the federation to pay the late-entry fee of ~1.22 lakh, which he is willing to reimburse later. But the GFI is not willing to play ball.

Ashish’s coach, Manoj Rana, agrees that his ward delayed sending the entry twice but adds that the GFI should facilitate the process now.

“We are aiming for international exposure before the World Championships in October. So, paying the penalty is no issue. We will reimburse the late fee amount to the GFI after the competition,” says Rana.

Ashish and the GFI still have about nine more days to register for the competition as the world governing body for gymnastics (FIG) will stop taking entries even with late fee after the draw of lots on February 22 or 23 in Lausanne.

The GFI is reluctant to pay the amount because they fear that if Ashish withdraws from the competition, he will not reimburse the money.

“There is no government sanction yet for the tour. Tomorrow, if Ashish says he doesn’t have the funds to travel to Baku, the GFI will have to bear the penalty,” says GFI vice president Narender Mor.

“There are rules and everyone has to follow them. The (late fee) money will go directly to the world body and not to national federation,” added Mor.