Government recognition doesn't matter much: AAI President

New Delhi: Archery Association of India (AAI) President Vijay Kumar Malhotra on Thursday said the body is not too bothered about the absence of Government recognition as the World Archery Federation (FITA) recognises it and slammed the Sports Ministry for practising "double standards".

"We have the full recognition of the international body, FITA and we are holding all the tournaments (national and ranking) as it is.

"In fact, we will also be participating in almost all the international competitions (about 12-13) under the Indian flag this year. So Government's recognition or derecognition doesn't matter much," said Malhotra after the AAI's Executive Committee meeting here.

The 81-year-old Malhotra also emphasised that earlier the government used to finance some of the tournaments but now AAI has been financing the national, junior, sub-junior and ranking tournaments itself.

"As far as international tournaments are concerned, the government directly gives money to the archers. Otherwise all the national and ranking tournaments we are financing."

Slamming the government for exercising double standards, Malhotra said while the Sports Ministry recognised him as the chief of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), it did not want to acknowledge him as the President of the AAI.

"It is a very complicated and confusing situation," Malhotra said. "The government recognises me as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) but does not want to recognise me as the chief when it comes of the AAI, citing age and tenure restrictions. Whereas FITA does not have any bar on the age and tenure guidelines," he added.

The Sports Ministry had de-recognised the AAI in December last year after the association failed to conform to the Sports Code of the Government of India while holding its election.

The President-elect of the AAI has served for more than three consecutive terms in the past and is also above the age of 70 years.

Malhotra said he would wait for the court's judgement before taking a decision on amending the constitution. "We will just wait for the judgement of the court, which is expected any time soon, and accordingly take a call on amending the constitution. The judgement would help us in making amendments and also conducting the re-election in September."

He said there were two international tournament lined up - Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in July and Asian Youth Games in August - but the Indian team might not be able to take part under the Indian flag.

"I have been told that the Indian team could be sent but not under the Indian flag," said Malhotra.

Asked whether IOA has agreed in principal to amend its constitution, as was announced by the Sports Minister Jitendra Singh after the joint meeting with International Olympic Committee last month, Malhotra said, "We have agreed to amend some of the points in the constitution but not including the age and tenure restrictions."

Meanwhile, in the meeting of the executive committee on Thursday, matter pertaining to engagement of foreign coaches was discussed and AAI has recommended Chae-Woong Lim's name as the Recurve coach and the SAI Authorities would finalise it.

Malhotra informed that the association was also looking for a compound coach in view of inclusion of compound archery event in Asian Games 2014.

Malhotra declared that a total prize money of more than Rs 50,00,000 lakh would be disbursed to archers and coaches during 2013.

Malhotra said that the upcoming national ranking archery tournament, to be held at the Yamuna Sports Complex here from June 21 to 23, is the 3rd in the series after the first two being held at Hyderabad and Jamshedpur, respectively.

He also added that the fourth and fifth ranking competitions are scheduled to be conducted in September and November.