Nationwide Video games: Taekwondo director changed amid match-fixing allegations

IOA, in an announcement mentioned, it had “obtained complaints that some officers appointed by the Taekwondo Federation of India had already fastened the result of matches in 10 of the 16 weight classes lengthy earlier than the beginning of the competitors.”

“The asking value is ₹3 lakh for gold medal, ₹2 lakh for silver and ₹1 lakh for bronze,” the IOA mentioned it was knowledgeable.

Taekwondo’s director competitors, T Praveen Kumar, has been changed with S Dinesh Kumar whereas 50% of the nominated ‘Technical Officers’ have additionally been changed with duly certified officers with worldwide or nationwide certification. The matches will likely be video recorded and a workforce of officers nominated by the Video games Technical Conduct Committee will likely be current in the course of the four-day taekwondo competitors beginning Tuesday.

IOA president PT Usha mentioned it’s surprising that Nationwide Video games medals have been allegedly determined away from the sector of play even earlier than the beginning of competitions.

“On the Indian Olympic Affiliation, we’re dedicated to being honest to all our athletes and defend them from folks conniving to control the competitors and tarnish the picture of the Nationwide Video games.”

Appearing on the grievance, IOA’s three-member Prevention of Manipulation of Competitors (PMC) Committee probed the matter and beneficial modifications. The IOA panel discovered that the director of competitors had named office-bearers and government committee members of some state associations and an gear vendor for the choice trials as Sports activities Particular Volunteers.

“It will be important that we tackle board the suggestions of the PMC Committee and defend the integrity of the thirty eighth Nationwide Video games Uttarakhand,” mentioned GTCC chairman Sunaina Kumari.

“Taekwondo gamers reached out to IOA and mentioned that final 12 months in the course of the Nationwide Championships in Pondicherry that they had selected the highest eight gamers and allegedly cash was taken. We requested PMC to probe into the problem,” mentioned an IOA official.

The game of taekwondo has been underneath scanner as a consequence of two federations claiming to be the official physique. IOA doesn’t recognise any of them.