AAI president: Association awaiting SC approval for recognition

The Archery Association of India will get recognition from the Sports Ministry after an approval by the Supreme Court, according to association president B. V. P. Rao.

In the renewed list of recognised national federations, the AAI, despite electing a new set of office-bearers under the amended constitution, was ignored by the Sports Ministry. The AAI elections were held as per a new constitution which, the Ministry says, is not in consonance with the national sports code.

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“For six years, the Archery Association of India was not recognised by the Sports Ministry. Nobody wrote when it was not there for the last six years,” Rao told PTI. AAI has been given time till March 31 to fall in line or risk de-recognition. But Rao said it is a matter of time as it is awaiting the approval of the Supreme Court.

The year will be an important one for Indian archers. The first Olympic Qualifiers are lined up in the World Championships at the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June.

Falling into place

There are also the National championships to contend with. The junior Nationals are slated for Bhopal from Friday, while the senior Nationals will be held next month in Bhubaneswar. Rao called on archers to focus on the upcoming National championships. “Following the Nationals we will pick the team and appoint a national coach. Things are starting to fall in place. Once it’s settled, they will recognise AAI,” he said.

Rao also confirmed that the national camps will continue to be held at the same venues as before — the Army Sports Institute in Pune for recurve archers, and the Sports Authority of India centre in Sonepat for compound archers.