In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Youth Affairs the National Christian Council (NCC), an Indian NGO, has raised concerns about the appointment of ESFI as part of the selection body of the upcoming Asian Games 2022, a StartupReporter report suggests.
The NCC also raised its concerns to the Indian Olympics Authority (IOA) about the appointment of ESFI and asked for IOA to disclose the criteria to appoint a newly elected private body (ESFI) which was named previously in mismanagement multiple times in the past, including a case during the Asian Games 2018.
The letter was signed by Aneel J Stevenson, National Secretary-General at National Christian Council (NCC), and questioned how a private body that doesn’t even come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) act be allowed to shortlist and select Indian athletes for the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China next year.
“What was the process followed to recognize the ESFI by the IOA? What is the credibility and position of the ESFI in the selection of the Indian National team being selected for the Games? Why did IOA choose a private body over other relevant and eligible organizations? Are the players aware of the terms and conditions mentioned in their contracts and whether they have been approved by the IOA? What are the credentials, experience, and credibility of ESFI’s directors Mr. Dhiman Kashyap, Mr. Lokesh Suji, Mr. Yugal Kishore, and Mr. Prabhat Kumar?“
The NCC also questioned about the appointment of Mr. Dhiman Kashyap who leads an Esports team Resilience and heads the Operations at ESFI.
“Why is a sports team stakeholder also a director of ESFI being given the responsibility to select India’s national team for the Asian Games? What is ESFI’s criterion or process for selecting players for the tournaments? How is a non-profit entity allowed to bind players on revenue-based clauses such as participants granting them a royalty-free, exclusive, perpetual, worldwide license to copy, change, use and distribute submissions and material in agreements? How does a private body that was also named in massive mismanagement of the funds during the 2018 Asian Games is considered reliable for the management of the national team?“
Finally, the NCC has asked IOA if it can present any documentary evidence in recognizing ESFI as a selection body and the due process followed for the same.
The NCC has raised several questions to Kiren Rijiju (Minister of State of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports) and Shri Narinder Dhruv Batra (President of Indian Olympics Association). The story will be updated as we get to learn from the developments hereon wards.
ESFI Director Lokesh Suji declined to remark on the matter upon our request for a comment.
