All-round cheer & hope as IOA lifts ban on Bihar teams

Bihar Olympic Association (BOA) and different sports association expressed happiness over the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decision to lift ban on state teams from participating in the National Games beginning January 31 in Kerala.

Bihar Olympic Association (BOA) and different sports association expressed happiness over the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decision to lift ban on state teams from participating in the National Games beginning January 31 in Kerala.

They also congratulated chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi for quick action to withdraw the controversial Bihar Sports (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Sports Associations) Act 2013 that paved the way for bringing Bihar back on track.

In a letter to the chief minister dated January 16, IOA secretary Rajeev Mehta said: "I am happy to acknowledge receipt of letter No. 2/B.2-02/06 part /44 dated January 14 of the government of Bihar, department of art, culture and youth affairs informing that the Bihar (Registration, Recognition and Regulation of Sports Associations) Act 2013 has been withdrawn."

"Welcoming the quick initiative and response of the government of Bihar, the IOA is pleased to convey that the ban imposed on Bihar teams for participation in the 35th National Games is hereby revoked and the Bihar Olympic Association may submit the sports entries to the organising committee of the Kerela National Games 2015," Mehta wrote.

Earlier, in a letter to IOA general secretary Rajiv Mehta, dated January 14, 2015, principal secretary of art, culture and youth affairs department, Anand Kishore, had enclosed the proceedings of the January 5 meeting of state sports associations with the chief minister over the Sports Act and the chief ministerfs announcement to withdraw the Act.

The letter stated that art, culture and youth affairs minister and chief minister had approved the proceedings of the meeting.

Congratulating the chief minister, BOA core committee chairman and MLA Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Bihar Table Tennis Association president and MLC Sanjay Singh, BOA president Prasannajit Mehta, vice-president Dr AB Prasad and its secretary Md Mushtaque Ahmad expressed gratitude for solving the biggest problem faced by the state sports so far.

Mushtaque Ahmad said now Bihar could move forward to place its bid in the IOA meeting to host National Games in the state. He said a delegation of the BOA would soon meet the chief minister to get his nod for the Bihar bid for 2020 National Games.

State sports associations also congratulated sports minister Vinay Bihari and officials of the sports department for prompt action in this regard.

Among others who congratulated the chief minister were Bihar Volleyball Association secretary Ramashish Prasad Singh, Bihar Swimming Association secretary Ram Bilas Pandey, Bihar Badminton Association secretary KN Jaiswal, Bihar Handball Association president Braj Kishore Sharma, Bihar Baseball Association secretary Ajay Narayan Sharma, Bihar Fencing Association secretary Rama Shankar Prasad, Bihar Athletics Association secretary Liaquat Ali Khan, Bihar State Carrom Association secretary Bharat Bhushan, Bihar Yoga Association president Upendra Kumar Singh and Bihar Football Association secretary S Imtiaz Hussian.