IOA still hopeful of change in Champions Trophy dates

By Our Sports Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 3. The non-participation of the hockey teams of Pakistan and South Korea in the inaugural Afro-Asian Games here in November has still remained a contentious issue between the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

After the Sports Minister, Ms. Uma Bharti, asked the IOA on Sunday to ensure that all the top teams from both the continents participate in the November 3-11 Games, its President, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, offered yet another hope saying that the `last ditch' efforts were on to get the dates of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament changed.

Expressing her ministry's full support to the smooth conduct of the Games, Ms Bharti, said that it was about time that everyone's responsibilities defined and work started on all fronts.

Addressing a joint press conference with Mr. Kalmadi, the Sports Minister said while it was the responsibility of the Sports Authority of India to get the stadia ready in time, her ministry's task was to provide security and hospitality to the foreign delegates and athletes.

``We will do our part, but what IOA must ensure is that all the participating countries send their top athletes and teams for the Afro-Asian Games,'' Ms. Bharti said referring to Pakistan and South Korea's refusal to send their hockey teams.

Though there was only an outside chance to reschedule the Champions Trophy, slated to be held in Lahore from November 3 to 11, Mr. Kalmadi noted that it was possible if right strings were pulled.

He referred to the reports emanating from Islamabad that cricket will be one of the topics on the agenda during the New Delhi summit between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan's Chief Executive Officer, General Parvez Musharraf.

Mr. Kalmadi said that if cricket could be discussed why not hockey. The IOA President urged Ms. Bharti to take up this issue at the Vajpayee-Musharraf summit.

Ms. Bharti, however, said that she could not commit anything. ``I have almost no role to play in the proposed Vajpayee-Musharraf summit. Only if the Ministry of External Affairs or the PMO needs our help, and, if at all sports is discussed, we will come into the picture,'' she clarified.

On his part, Mr. Kalmadi said that he had raised the issue at a meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), in Japan recently. The OCA President, he said was favourable to India's cause and urged the Pakistani delegation to look into the matter.

``SAF Games are round the corner (scheduled in October in Islamabad), and India is ready to participate in the Games. So, Pakistan should reciprocate by changing the dates of the Champions Trophy,'' he said.

Though the fate of hockey still hanged in balance, Mr. Kalmadi said he has been given an assurance that there would be no problem in the postponing of the ATP World Doubles championship, to be held in Bangalore from November 6 to 10.

``The ATP Council will meet during the Wimbledon Championships to discuss India's proposal to defer the World doubles by a week,'' the IOA President said.

He said the OCA and the Association of the National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) have set July 31, 2001, as the cut off date to consider rankings of the sportspersons for the Games. The last date of receiving the entries would be October 2.

The Afro-Asian Games Organising Committee and the Executive Committee was finally announced on Sunday. The Organising Committee consists of whopping 437 members with Ms. Bharti as the Chairperson and Mr. Kalmadi said the Working Chairman. A 73- member Executive Committee was also named.

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