Page 52 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

sports

level players carve a niche in Judo Rest of the amount was still held retorted Singh.
ormer Judo Federation of “The issue of certificates is a subject spirit of the sportsmanship by not send- and make a flourishing career or gain up with Kumar till a few months back About his expectations from the
India (JFI) president Muke- matter of a writ petition pending ing some of the promising players like viable employment opportunity out when Yashpal Solanki, Judoka and new president of JFI, Avtar said, “I
sh Kumar’s list of unethical before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court Avtar Singh to participate in three sig- of it. “I tell you, India missed out at coach, initiated a complaint against his am hopeful that Partap Singh Bajwa
practices was not limited and sub judice. Hence, would request nificant international championships least 10 laurels that year because of wrongdoings through a PIL in Delhi ji will improve the state of Judo sports
F to issuing bogus certificates you to look into the said petition and in 2016. Kumar and his vested interests. The High Court in 2017. Solanki’s persistent and Judokas in India. At the moment,
to disqualified players for kickbacks, proceedings.” The noted Indian Judoka and year 2016 was actually the year of fight for players’ rights forced Kumar we are in dire need of Judo hall (indoor
for backdoor admission in medical Olympian, Avtar Singh, says, “Early potential opportunity for many Judo- to release some amount to the play- stadium) or say personal training camp
and engineering institutes during his At the cost of players in 2016, me and three of the Judokas kas and Judo had we been sent to play ers. “While 40 per cent amount was for Judo training, practices, accommo-
term as JFI head. Tehelka had brought It cannot be forgotten how Kumar expressed our interest to participate at the international events. By now, released to the players few months dation, etc. You can easily find personal
to light how for the first time in 1989, brought disgrace to the reputed JFI and in three prestigious international Judo would have been recognised before the end of 2017, the remaining training camp for sports like boxing
Kumar submitted fake sports docu- made the players pay a heavy cost for championships — Pan American Open and become a known sport in India, amount was returned a while ago, i.e. or wrestling in India, but in Judo sport,
ments to acquire a job in Sports Author- his vested interest [refer to Tehelka’s 2016, American Open 2016 and Judo as much as cricket, hockey, boxing two months back this year,” says Singh. the facility is unavailable. Secondly,
ity of India. exclusive report ‘Judo too marred by Grand Prix. We were told by the then or tennis.” It would be unfair to hold Kumar cul- superior training facilities and more
The good news for the Judo players sports scandal’ (Issue 7, Volume 15)]. JFI president Mukesh Kumar that the Thanks to Kumar’s apathy, many prit alone for the Judo sports scandal or exposures to the Indian Judokas are
is that Kumar is no longer with JFI as He was accused of discouraging the government didn’t have funds to send Judokas lost the opportunity in 2016 misappropriation of foreign funds as also needed.”

Change of guard at JFI

kindles new hope

In its exclusive report ‘Judo too marred by sports scandal’ (Issue 7, Volume 15), Tehelka had
reported about the bogus certificate rackets in India’s reputed Judo Federation of India (JFI). Its
former president Mukesh Kumar, who perpetrated the act with the connivance of officials and higher
authorities during his stint, has been shown the door and Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, Partap
Singh Bajwa, has taken reigns of JFI, kindling a new hope, writes pari saikia

Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, Partap As per Avtar, the the players to the events. Without a
Singh Bajwa, took charge of the Fed- second thought, we became ready
eration in the first week of February year 2016 could to pay the cost to Kumar. We all re-
this year. Whether Kumar chose to have helped many quested him to initiate the process and
resign from the post after the fake cer- make the necessary arrangements to
tificate controversy, or it was a decision grassroot-level send us to the tournaments. Soon, we
taken by the Federation to oust him, handed him almost between 50,0000-
remains unclear. The players are all in players carve a niche 1,00,000 (per head) for accommodation
praises for the new president. Judokas in Judo and make a and other expenses. Days passed by to win various scholarships that could such loophole is never possible without “Government observers should
see a new dawn in the Judo Federation but there was no sign of him or have helped them grab employment the connivance of officials and higher be appointed for every sports federa-
with the elevation of Bajwa to the JFI’s flourishing career any word from the JFI. Then came opportunities. Despite being wary of authorities from the fraternity. This is tion in India to protect the interest of
top post. or gain employment the time of the events, Kumar didn’t their reaction, Kumar was rigid enough no less than a cobweb. the sports and sportsmen. It should be
Tehelka reached out to Bajwa to send anyone of us to any of the cham- to keep all the money of the players. “Very shameful to see some of the made sure that no such scandal whap-
seek his views about his predecessor opportunity out pionships. That moment struck us like Perturbed and demotivated by Kumar’s officials from the Judo Federation pens in the future. Appointing govern-
Mukesh Kumar, who not only risked of it. But the huge disappointment and discourage- action, the players began to pressurise are equally hands-in-glove with ment observers will also help instil fear
the future of many Judokas by issu - ment of our life. Money lost, opportu- him and the Federation for releasing Kumar. How could they safeguard such among the wrongdoers in the sports
ing fake sports certificates to them for former JFI head nity lost!” their money. “We, somehow, managed a corrupt person like Kumar? And, fraternity,” he added.
kickbacks but also left behind a taint didn’t let it happen According to Avtar, the year 2016 to spend trivial amount out of it in Judo all the favouritism just to earn some
on the Federation. His response was, could have helped many grassroots sport,” says the Olympian Judoka. personal advantage and money?” letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 may 2018 52 www.Tehelka.com Tehelka / 15 may 2018 53 www.Tehelka.com

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