Taekwondo body unrecognised, can't hold trials

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, February 17

In an embarrassing development, India Taekwondo had to concede in court that it cannot make any selections to the national team as the body isn’t a recognised national sports federation (NSF).

Further, India Taekwondo counsel Hrishikesh Baruah told the Delhi High Court that his clients will submit a clarification on its website that the proposed selection meet, scheduled to be held in Aurangabad on February 20-24, will not be held for the purpose of selection for the Indian team. Baruah made this submission during a hearing on a petition by two taekwondo players, who pleaded with the court to stop the federation from organising the Kyorugi Open Selection Trials-2022.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had replaced the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), which was derecognised by the international federation, with India Taekwondo. It formed a five-member ad-hoc body, headed by IOA joint secretary Namdev Shirgaonkar, to run the sport. Further, the IOA gave the new body conditional recognition in June 2019, subject to completion of all formalities needed to get recognition from the world body. Shirgaonkar, who has now become the interim chairman of India Taekwondo, was unavailable for comments.

Justice Rekha Palli in her judgment wrote, “At the outset, Mr. Hrishikesh Baruah, learned counsel for the respondent no. 5/ India Taekwondo submits that since the said association has, till date, not been recognized as a National Sports Federation, it is well aware that it is not authorized to make any selections/recommendations either to the national team (Team India) or for selecting players for India’s participation in any international events.

“He, further, submits that the said respondent will issue a clarificatory notice on its website and all other social platforms where notices inviting entries for the said tournament were published, clarifying that the tournament will not be either for selection to the national team (Team India) or for selecting players for India’s participation in any international events. The said statement is taken on record,” the order copy further said.

The petitioners, through their counsels, questioned the taekwondo body’s role while citing a judgement by the Division Bench in IOA vs Union of India in 2014 that said “only a recognized National Sports

Federation (NSF) is allowed to use the expression “India” as prefix/suffix to its name and is authorized to select and send Team India for any international event in any sport.”