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Synopsis

Justice Yashwant Varma, of the Delhi High Court on Monday, directed the counsel for the petitioner to implead the Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTCC) and the State of Gujarat, organiser of the 36th National Games 2020.

The court was hearing a plea filed by the athletes of Taekwondo, seeking directions to hold the competition of the Sport, Taekwondo at the upcoming 36th National Games, to be held from September 27, 2022, to October 10, 2022, in Gujarat.

The plea stated that the petitioners have represented the “Indian Team” in Taekwondo at various national and international events, as per the letter dated February 1, 2017, of the Annual General Meeting of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which states, “all sports which are affiliated with IOA must be included in all the future National Games (36th, 37th, and 38th)”

The plea claimed that the sport of Taekwondo is played with great enthusiasm in India and is constituted as an integral part of the National Games of the Union of India.

The plea stated that the 36th National Games were earlier declared by the IOA to be held from March 30, 2019, to April 14, 2019, and "Taekwondo" was included in the list of sports as part of the National Games at Serial No. 28.

The petition also stated that, the venue and date of the 36th National Games has been changed and will now be held in Gujarat by the IOA in collaboration with the Gujarat State Olympic Association. Further, that the IOA released a schedule of all the games to be played at the event, which did not include Taekwondo.

Furthermore, that even Wikipedia has information regarding the 36th Game of India 2022, with Taekwondo as the Sport.

Case Title: Shivansh Tyagi and Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.