Jolt for SAG, basketball derecognized

Move by Intertiol Basketball Federation against 'IOA's interference'

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 3: The 12th South Asian Games has received a jolt, two days before the kick-off.

Intertiol Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of basketball, has de-recognized the event in the championship.

In  a letter to Basketball Federation of India (BFI), the FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann said in view of “ucceptable interference by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in the affairs of the Basketball Federation of India, FIBA has decided to de-recognize the basketball competitions of the South Asian Games”. The event was scheduled to take place from February 11 to 16 at the Karmavir vin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor stadium.

The letter also states that “the IOA had asked an Ad-hoc Committee to select the Indian tiol team for the meet which is in complete violation of FIBA’s decisions and directions. At the last FIBA Asia Board meeting, held on January 30, 2016, it was decided unimously to condemn the actions of the Indian authorities, which deprive recognized body BFI the right to select and mage the tiol teams.”

FIBA has requested all the participating tions to refrain from sending their tiol teams for the basketball event.     

When contacted, an official of the organizing committee today confirmed the news but refused to give further details. “We have got the news but I can’t say what the future course of action will be in this regard,” he said.