Friday, February 20, 2009

‘Fake’ power-lifting body picks players for national event

Abid Khan
Srinagar, Feb 20: A Jammu-based sports body has selected a 16-member power lifting team for the upcoming national championship to be held in Gurgaon from February 19 to 22 reportedly under the garb of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Lifting Association. The Srinagar office of the Association has distanced itself from the selection process and the team announcement. “Some matters related to the J&K Power Lifting Association are sub-judice,” joint secretary Bashir Ahmad said. “Until the court gives its verdict, the functioning of the Association is unconstitutional.” He said the real body carried the name of Anees Ahmad Chowdhary as general secretary in the records. “It is a disputed body which can’t hold even trials not to talk of selecting the players,” he said. “We don’t have even the names of those functioning in the Jammu office at whatever positions. The Sports Council should conduct a probe into its structure and functioning.” Describing as ‘unconstitutional’ the functioning of the Association, Sports Development Association president, Mukhtar Rasool Bhat, said: “It is a matter of great concern. The power-lifting Association is a state-level body and is obliged to give equal representation to all the provinces of the state.” Sources in the Sports Council said that the council did not recognise the body. “The selection of players was done without our authorisation,” a senior official of the Council said. “There’re other sports bodies based in Jammu who though pick Kashmiri players, do not organise events in the valley.” He warned if the trend continued it would mar the future of sports in the state.

published in Greater Kashmir on Feb 21: link http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=21_2_2009&ItemID=3&cat=4

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