Date:13/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/13/stories/2005081306872000.htm

Sport - Gymnastics

Meet organisers in a fix

Sports Reporter

HYDERABAD: The organisers of the Rajiv Gandhi international senior gymnastics championship, to be held in Saroornagar Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad from August 18 to 21, are in a fix thanks to a missing file pertaining to the grant of visa to the 13 foreign teams which have confirmed participation in the event.

According to Mr. Damodar Reddy, treasurer of the AP Gymnastics Association, the file was being handled by the Sports Authority of India and SAI was supposed to send it to the Union Home Ministry to get the clearance to facilitate the 13 teams' participation. With the deadline fast approaching, the local organisers came to know about the missing file only when an enquiry was made about the fate of the visas. And they were told by the Home Ministry to send the entire file again for clearance since the Ministry had not received anything.

The foreign teams which are expected to take part are Sri Lanka, South Korea, Bangladesh, Nepal, Hong Kong, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Qatar. There will be 16 gold medals at stake and this event is considered significant for the preparations for Indian gymnasts ahead of the Asian championship in Surat next January.

The organisers are now trying hard to clear this unexpected hurdle. Unless the issue is sorted out within the next couple of days, the event might face cancellation.