SAI takes note of non-selection of equestrian players for Asian Games
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Friday took cognizance of the non-selection of equestrians Fawad Mirza, Chirag Khandal and Shashank Singh Kataria in the list for the Asian Games following the intervention of the country’s apex court. SAI Deputy Director General Shiv Sharma along with other officials had an online interaction with Mirza, Khandal and Kataria on Friday and heard their grievances. According to a statement by SAI, Khandal has informed them that the Supreme Court had directed the ‘Equestrian Federation of India (EFI)’ to include his name in the long list for the Asian Games.
Tokyo Olympians Mirza and Kataria, on their part, also requested to be included in the long list for the Asian Games. These players have also demanded a fair and transparent selection process. “SAI has taken cognizance of the matter and informed EFI to take an appropriate decision on the same at the earliest,” said a SAI statement.
The Delhi High Court in March criticized the EFI for its unfair selection process for the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games. The court ordered the EFI to consider all athletes participating in selection trials in 2021-2022 or 2022-2023 as potential players and allow them to participate in coaching camps in Europe. The EFI had demanded a minimum eligibility requirement for selection which led to the players having to move the court.
