Don't do anything which leads to suspension: Rijiju to sports federations

The union sports minister urged all the sports federation in the country to not be involved in anything that leads to their suspension.

Kiren Rijiju said the federations should try not to have factions and try to come together.

Top Indian archers Deepika Kumari and Ankita Bhakat recently competed at an international event under the IOC flag, and reacting to this union sports minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday urged the National Federations to not be involved in anything that leads to their suspension.

The Archery Association of India (AAI) was suspended due to administrative turmoil, forcing the country’s archers to compete under the IOC flag.

Deepika won a gold, while Ankita bagged a silver at Asian Championships, the Continental Qualification Tournament held in Bangkok.

“We don’t want our athletes to compete under neutral flag. The National Sports Federations must not do anything that leads to suspension,” Rijiju said.

Read: Bajrang Punia receives Khel Ratna from Sports Minister

“There should not be any factions. All the federations have to come together and we are willing to help all.”

The minister spoke after handing over national awards to wrestler Bajrang Punia (Khel Ratna), shot putter Tejinder Pal Singh Toor (Arjuna), his coach M.S. Dhillon (Dronacharya) and runner Mohammed Anas Yahia (Arjuna) in a simple ceremony.

Bajrang and Toor had missed the National Sports Day ceremony in August due to their preparations for the World Championships.

“Since the day I took over, I have been meeting athletes and trying to help. We have record number of Olympic quota this time. We have world class athletes and a few are really strong contenders,” Rijiju said.