With the final clearance for India’s Asian Games contingent remaining stuck with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), officials have had to reschedule their crucial meetings with the organisers yet again.
The file had been sent to the PMO last Thursday by the Sports Minister but no decision had been taken by the time of going to print. The delay meant Indian officials had to postpone the Delegates Registration Meeting (DRM) with the organisers for a later date.
The Indian DRM was originally scheduled for September 6-7 but was pushed back to September 8-9. The DRM is crucial for official validation of the Indian athletes and officials and without it, no one would be allowed to enter the Games Village or use the facilities. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has now requested the organisers to re-schedule the DRM for September 11.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) had suggested a drastic pruning of the original list, claiming claimed only disciplines with any hope of medal should be cleared, reducing the overall number to just over 700. “This morning, I got a call from an official from the Incheon Games organising committee inquiring about the status of the DRM. I had to tell him we are yet to get government clearance. It was an awkward position,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said.
