Sports Ministry to bear costs of non-affiliated sports in Asian Games

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had initially decided to include the non-affiliated sports like sambo, pencak silat, kursah, roller skating, soft climbing, bridge, sepak takraw and soft tennis in the next edition of the Asian Games. The Association later asked the respective federations to bear the expenses on their own.

After such a controversial decision, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore took an immediate action by communicating with the IOA regarding the issue. He said that no athlete should pay for his/her kit or uniform and revealed that the Ministry will provide the required kits and apparel to the respective Indian athletes.

According to a document provided by the Times of India, the price of the training and competition kits designed by the Chinese company Li Ning was around Rs. 18,000 to 22,000 per athlete. On the other hand, the price of a single uniform for the opening and closing ceremonies was Rs. 10,910.

The federations were shocked by the decision made by the IOA’s apparel company to ask an advance payment for the kits. A federation official said they were already overburdened by other important things and such a decision did not help the situation.

“It has caught us by surprise. We are already overburdened by the preparatory camps. This decision will not help us at all,” the official told TOI.