Controversy over selection of karate team by SAI (Asian Games)

The World Karate Federation warned the IOA president after objections from senior players.

According to Karate India Organization President Vijay Tiwari, the World Karate Federation, in a letter addressed to PT USHA, President of the Indian Olympic Association, dated June 14, 2023, citing its earlier letters and OCA's letter, has clarified that any kind of selection  recognition will be given only if that selection ensures official participation of the KIO.  The WKF President has also given a clear order to KIO that if athletes other than KIO participates in any event of selection trials, then KIO should not participate in that selection because the selection in which players from unrecognized units will participate will be completely invalid. In its letter addressed to Usha, the WKF has strongly objected to the invitation of non recognized athletes first by IOA and now by SAI for the selection of Indian team for Hingzhou Asian Games.  

Significantly, the Delhi High Court in its order dated 24 May 2023 had given a clear order to the Sports Authority of India that SAI should constitute a selection committee within a week for the selection of the Indian karate team participating in the upcoming Asian Games, in which senior  athletes and senior coach of SAI should be included.  Also, it was directed to include one member from the Indian Olympic Association in this committee. The court had made it clear in its decision that the selection of the team should be done according to the rules of the Indian Olympic Association.

Following this order of the court, SAI constituted a four-member committee, in which 2 ex-karate players Maltesh ITBP and Bhagwan Singh CRPF, one member Sewabrata Deuri from IOA and one coach Vijeta from SAI have been taken. It is very Surprising that both the players taken in this committee have never played in the Asian Games, nor do they have any other international achievement in WKF or AKF events, neither of the above two members have ever been an official judge or referee at the national or at International leval. The member depicted as representing the IOA has no direct association with the IOA, nor does he or she have any known achievements in karate.  Not only this, the SAI coach who has been taken into the committee as a senior coach is also not a senior coach of SAI but merely a junior coach appointed two years back on contractual basis, has never represented India in any international competition, nor has she ever been a national champion. Her license issued as an Asian judge has also been revoked few years ago by the World Karate Federation and the Asian Karate Federation. It is worth noting that SAI has other senior and accomplished coaches, including Sunil Rathee posted at Meghalaya as Junior Coach, who represented India in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, gold medalists at the South Asian Games and National Games, multiple-time gold medalists at national championships, participated in many world and Asian championships and also produced world class athletes himself.

India has many qualified international coaches, referees and judges, verified by the World Karate Federation and Asian Karate Federation. There are Many players who have represented India at the international level and won medals in past. But it seems that Indian Karate players are being played a joke due to mutual connivance of SAI officials and Indian Olympic Association officials.  Despite the clear order of the court, the way the work of forming the committee has been done ignoring the authenticity, seniority and qualification, it is clear that the Sports Authority of India or the Indian Olympic Association does not want to send the Karate team to the Hangzhou Asian Games. There is only the show of the complaince of Court Order. 

Recently many former International athletes raised their objection on the Constitution of Selection Committee ignoring qualified Athletes, coaches and experts and including non accredited players coach in the Selection Committee.  Salahuddin Ansari, represented India in various international competitions, participated in 2006 Busan Asian Games and many times national champion, 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games team members, international athletes and former National Champions Simmi Batta and Valena Valentina and former South Asian, Commonwealth and national champion Sharath, who represented India in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, has lodged objections by writing separate letters addressed to the Director General of the Sports Authority of India, the Secretary, Ministry of Sports and the President of the Indian Olympic Association, they have clearly indicated in their objections on the the discriminatory attitude towards the selection of nominated members in the Selection committee. 

Senior karate players of India have also recommended abolishing the said selection committee formed by SAI with immediate effect and constitute a new committee.  In their letters, these senior players and judges of international level have written that a new committee should be constituted by including qualified and senior players and coaches after holding discussion with the World Karate Federation and it's affiliated NSF, Karate India Organisation.

The Seniors Athletes have also sent copies of their objections and recommendations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and President of the World Karate Federation Antonio Espinos.

The court had given a clear order that the selection of the teams should be according to the rules of the Indian Olympic Association, the selection of the team of any sport is the responsibility and authority of the national unit of a particular sport, in such a situation, the Karate India organization, which is associated with the World Karate Federation, is the only Indian organization,  has the right to select the karate team for any international event. Now even if the Indian unit of karate is considered disputed, it is clearly written in the Indian Olympic Association's constitution that in case of any kind of dispute, the World Sports Federation of a concern sport will be discussed first, in such a situation it is mandatory to consult the World Karate Federation before taking any decision regarding the sport of Karate.

Be aware that only Karate India Organization is recognized by the World Karate Federation in India and this association is completely undisputed at the national level.  The Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association have been informed several times by WKF regarding the status of KIO.  But still the government is preparing for the selection of the Indian team by completely bypassing the World Karate Federation and its recognized Indian unit KIO.  While it is clearly written in the karate technical hand book of Hangzhou Asian Games, WKF and AKF rules will prevail in case of sporting rules.

There are another issues too which were not properly addressed by SAI and IOA, only four men and four women players can participate in the Asian Games from India in Karate, whereas in the selection conducted by SAI on June 19 and 20,  selection for 5 weight categories and one individual kata event for women and men respectively had been called. SAI's selection notice dated May 12, 2023 states that the minimum age is above 18 years as mandatory, whereas according to the Hangzhou Asian Games Karate Technical Handbook, the minimum age is 16 years for the Kata event and 18 years for the Kumite event.

Huge error is being made by SAI and Indian Olympic Association not only in the process of the selection of the Indian team but also in the team entry, if the team is selected bypassing the recommendation and suggestion of the World Karate Federation, then there is every possibility that if Indian Olympic Association will send entry of the karate team it must not be validated by organizing Committee of Hingzhou Asian Games. In such a situation, the players will not be able to participate in the Asian Games. The Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association should ensure the selection of the team by taking the right decision on the basis of seniority in the selection committee and the selection of the team from the players belonging to the recognised unit of WKF. The selection should be done with WKF qualified technical officials only, so that the participation of the Indian karate team in the Hangzhou Asian Games can be ensured and justice is done to the players who have been working hard for years.