Politics · India Bureau
Sports Minister to Meet Para-Shooters Over Selection Process Concerns
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is scheduled to meet with Indian para-shooters on Friday to address grievances over the selection process for the upcoming Para Asian Games. The athletes have staged protests alleging irregularities in team selection, though officials maintain the roster was chosen on merit.
LSN India ·
Para-shooters protesting alleged corruption and manipulation in the selection process for India's Para Asian Games contingent will meet with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday to voice their concerns.
The athletes demonstrated outside the Sports Authority of India headquarters and continued their protest during Thursday's send-off ceremony for para-athletes competing in the Aichi-Nagoya Games, scheduled for October 18-24 in Japan.
A senior Ministry official acknowledged institutional issues within para-shooting administration. "There seem to be a lot of institutional problems in how para-shooting is being run right now. It is not merely about the Asian Games. The minister will meet them to try and resolve the issues raised by them, including that of corruption," the source stated.
The Paralympic Committee of India has dismissed the allegations, asserting that all team selections were made strictly on merit. The shooters submitted a formal representation to the Sports Authority of India's Director General on Wednesday detailing their specific grievances regarding the selection procedure.
The meeting comes as India prepares to send its para-athletes to Japan for the regional competition, with officials seeking to resolve internal disputes before the Games commence.