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The single-judge bench was hearing a plea filed by 14 athletes of the Dragon Boat Race, seeking inclusion of the sport event at the upcoming 36th National Games 2022, scheduled in Gujarat.
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Indian Olympics Association (IOA), Chairman Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC), Union of India through its Secretary, Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association, Sports Authority of India (SAI), and others to file a status report on a plea seeking inclusion of the sport “Dragon Boat”.
Justice Yashwant Varma was hearing a plea filed by 14 athletes of the Dragon boat race seeking to quash the list dated August 27, 2022, issued by the IOA and to include events for the sport of Dragon Boat Race at the 36th National Games 2022.
The plea stated that the petitioners are athletes who represent India in the Olympics. Further, that the Dragon Boat Race/Traditional Boat Race, is a sport that is part of the kayaking and canoeing disciplines, and the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association is the sport's governing body in India. It also stated that the petitioners have invested their valuable time, energy, and money to practice the aforementioned sport and have also brought laurels to the country.
The plea stated that in the 2018 ACC 5th Asian Dragon Boat Championship, held in China, from July 4th to 8th, 2018 in which the athletes including the petitioners received six medals for India. And that, in the Asian Games 2018 held in Indonesia, the competition had 5 events of Traditional Boat Race (TBR).
It further added that in the Dragon Boat World Cup 2019, held in China, the athletes including the petitioners participated and secured a Bronze Medal for India. It also stated that in all these events the respective International Federations acknowledged the list of participants which includes the petitioners.
The plea stated that the upcoming National Games were scheduled to have 36 games with various events, and as per the announcement Kayaking and Canoeing were allotted 21 events (Slalom-4, Sprint Individual-6, Sprint Doubles-4, Sprint Four -2 & Dragon Boat-5.
It further stated that on July 27, 2022, the GTCC issued another list wherein 5 events of boat race (Dragon Boat) were kept on hold, thereafter the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association requested GTCC to include the Dragon Boat Race under it for the 36th National Games, 2022.
“It is shocking that despite the letter dated August 18, 2022, written by the Sports Department, State of Madhya Pradesh, assuring support of equipment, the GTCC issued a fresh list on August 27, 2022, wherein they arbitrarily removed the event of Dragon Boat Race/Traditional Boat Race”, the plea read.
Case Title: Sumedha Singh and Ors. v. Indian Olympic Association and Ors.
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