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IOA writes to Sports Ministry on karate governance crisis
Meanwhile, PT Usha has been communicating with the Sports Ministry regarding the governance issues in karate.
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The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha has written to the Sports Ministry to initiate proceedings against unrecognised karate bodies in India.
Karate's governance is in crisis, with multiple bodies staking claim to be the recognised NSF. The matter is in court. On Friday, a purported letter from the World Karate Federation (WKF) President, Antonio Espinos, to the IOA had raised issues with the team leader accompanying the Indian karate contingent at the Asian Games, and backed one of the federations -- Karate India Organisation.
"IOA has not received any letter from WKF via email. The purported letter is fake and is being circulated in the karate community. The concerned karate official mentioned in the letter has retired after 24 years of service and, in fact, was appreciated by WKF. IOA intends to take up the issue with WKF and the IOC," said IOA in a statement.
Meanwhile, Usha has been communicating with the Sports Ministry regarding the governance issues in karate. Earlier this week, she wrote to the Sports Ministry for "early intervention by the Ministry to address the issue of multiple registered karate bodies operating in India and to resolve the prevailing uncertainty surrounding the governance of the sport."
"The matter has assumed greater urgency following the recent discussions between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and officials of the World Karate Federation (WKF), during which concerns were raised regarding the status of karate in India. This also needs to be viewed in the context of the Ministry’s earlier correspondences," she wrote.
"The IOA has requested the Ministry to take up the matter on priority and initiate appropriate action, in accordance with the applicable laws, through the competent authorities for the early cancellation of registrations wherever legally warranted. This would help address instances of misrepresentation, clarify the distinction between registration under general law and recognition as a National Sports Federation, and protect the interests of athletes. I would be grateful for your personal intervention in the matter and for appropriate directions to be issued for its early resolution," she said.
