Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore stepped in after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) refused to cover cost of kits and uniforms of those Asian Games-bound athletes whose federations are not affiliated with them. Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that he has directed Sports India to issue the same to ‘every’ team representing India.
The IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta said that they do not cover the expenses of ceremonial dress and playing kits of the athletes who belong to unaffiliated associations. He added, “We are sending more than 540 athletes and more than 200 officials and the expenses for their attire run into crores and IOA has limited resources. So we signed these contracts with the sponsors but they cover only the players of the federations affiliated to the IOA and not outside it.”
The Sports Minster ordered through his twitter, “No team participating in Asian Games 2018 will have to bear the expenses of kit and uniform by themselves. I have directed @IndiaSports @Media_SAI to issue kits and apparel to every team representing India.”
Out of the 37 sports India is competing in the Asian Games, seven governing federations — Bridge, Kurash, Pencak Silat, Roller Skating, Sambo, Sepaktakraw, Soft Tennis, and Sport Climbing — are not recognised by IOA. These sports constitute 114 athletes out of the 541 announced so far by the IOA. Out of these Bridge, Pencak Silat, Roller Skating, Sepaktakraw and Soft Tennis are recognised by the Sports Ministry while Kurash, Sambo and Sports Climbing federations are not recognised.
