Dissolve disputed sports associations, save our future: J&K athletes urges to PM Modi

Vishal Bharti
Jammu, Nov 24: Allegedly being “sandwiched” between “disputed” sports bodies fighting legal battles over their affiliations, the Jammu and Kashmir athletes have urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and secure their future.
The athletes have appealed to PM Modi to ask the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) to frame working committees in place of “disputed” bodies by dissolving them.
An appeal comes ahead of upcoming national competitions and the prestigious 38th National Games to be held next year in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14.
“Around one dozen sports associations out of the 52 affiliated/registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council—are having “disputes” and fighting a legal battle to prove their genuineness,” official sources said.
They said, most of the ‘disputed’ bodies affiliated with the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC), are not recognised by the associations and federations at the national level, which is an absolute example of utter violation of ‘National Sports Code’, adding, “similarly, some of the bodies having affiliations with the national federations, are not being treated as valid by the J&K Sports Council.”
“What is our fault? Why are we being treated as a sacrificial lamb to a system? The government must settle this mess once for all in the interest of the players to secure our future,” said an athlete of international repute.
“Enough is enough and it is high time to take a call by the supreme authorities because it involves our future,” he said speaking to UNI while appealing to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a call and save lives of hundreds of athletes falling prey to the disputes.
“We are in a fix due to the ongoing tussle between “disputed” bodies,” he said asserting that sportspersons are directly bearing the brunt.
A national level medal winner athlete told UNI, “national competitions are round the corner and our worries have doubled, adding, “the politicisation of sports is ruining our future and nobody is taking notice of this.”
“Dust must be cleared either by giving a true picture on recognised sports bodies, both at State/UT level and national level or by dissolving them immediately and replacing them with a working body headed by the government functionary with a fixed accountability on participation of players in national level competitions,” said an athlete.
“Why two sports bodies allowed to operate? The ‘National Sports Code’ must be followed religiously for transparent and hassle-free working of the associations,” she stated.
She revealed that at the time of national competitions, the players are always in limbo over their participation, which affects the practice, alleging, sometimes it becomes embarrassing at the national competitions when they face neglect.
“We urge the Prime Minister to take a call through the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) so that working or ad-hoc committees headed by the neutral government representative are framed for smooth sailing,” the athletes said in one voice.
“The government must also look into the criteria adopted in sanctioning of annual grants to the “disputed” bodies, if any and where the funds were utilised, must be looked into,” they expressed. UNI