New Delhi
The GFI had registered Dipa for the back-to-back World Cups to be held from March 14-17 and March 20-23 in Azerbaijan and Qatar respectively, while also sending the entries of Yogeshwar Singh and Ashish Kumar in the men’s artistic section at the Doha event.
However, the SAI has still not sanctioned the gymnasts’ tours, with the World Cup in Baku beginning in less than two weeks. The two WCs are part of the 2020 Olympic Qualification series. The GFI has nominated its vice president Riyaz Bhati to accompany the delegation for the two events.
However, Bhati claimed that SAI Project Manager Rajinder Pathania is not clearing the team because he wants to go for those. “GFI has fulfilled its responsibilities concerning registration in a fair and timely manner and has informed all concerned. However, there is a lack of clarity from the SAI and the sanction has still not been released with just 10 days remaining for departure,” he said.
“As the vice president of GFI, I have been registered as head of delegation for both the WCs. I personally called up Pathania to check the status and he informed that an official from SAI, preferably himself, should be registered to enable him to get the file cleared. I informed him that the federation will do the needful provided it has a formal communication from SAI.”
Ranjeet Vasava, GFI general secretary, said that the federation has “confirmed the registration of the gymnasts individually as well as collectively to the SAI, with a request to provide financial support. We hope that SAI would provide the needful assistance.” A gymnast has to participate in three of the eight World Cups to be eligible for Olympic qualification.
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