IOA to send observer for archery elections in Delhi

The IOA said that it would go strictly by the decision of the Supreme Court and send its observer for the Archery Association of India (AAI) elections to be held in Delhi on June 9 unless eight members of the Committee of Administrators running the archery body “inform otherwise”.

The World Archery has warned the AAI of “immediate suspension” if the two factions go ahead with two separate elections in New Delhi and Chandigarh on June 9. (representative image)

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said that it would go strictly by the decision of the Supreme Court and send its observer for the Archery Association of India (AAI) elections to be held in Delhi on June 9 unless eight members of the Committee of Administrators running the archery body “inform otherwise”.

Expressing disappointment over World Archery’s move to “step into” AAI elections without keeping IOA in the loop, IOA president Narinder Batra said IOA respected the law of the land and the Olympic movement and would “not be intimidated by the threats of the WA for athletes’ participation and de-recognition of NSF.”

“We sincerely hope that better sense prevails in the mind of the World body and they understand (sic) that Olympic movement besides respecting autonomy (which IOA is protecting) also asks for respect for law of the land which unfortunately WA is not showing in relation to India,” he added.