New Delhi : To ensure that the National Sports Federations (NSFs) elect office bearers as per the Sports Code only, the government has hardened its stance and latest to fall in line is All India Tennis Association, which has agreed to elect its new President next month.
Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Saturday met with AITA Life President Anil Khanna and told him in clear terms that if AITA has to get back the recognition, they will have to elect a new President as per the Sports Code.
The government had de-recognised AITA recently after Khanna was elected President for a second term till 2020 at sports body’s AGM in Indore on September 3 even as the veteran administrator refused to take up the post.
AITA’s Executive Committee then elected senior bureaucrat Praveen Mahajan as the new President on December 1 but the government wants the Federation to hold fresh elections.
AITA will have its Annual General Body (AGM) meeting during the India-Spain tie in Pune from February 3-5 and elect a new President.
“We want all Federations to follow the government guidelines. We have nothing against them. We just want to ensure that proper procedures are followed as per the Sports Code. We will not tolerate any violation. Mr Khanna has agreed to hold elections,” Sports Minister Vijay Goel said.–PTI
