New Delhi: Two-time Winter Olympian Arif Khan has expressed concerns over the newly elected Ski and Snowboard India (SSI) being granted National Sports Federation (NSF) status.
The SSI has been embroiled in a tussle for control, leading to protracted court cases, with only two athletes, including Arif, participating in this year's Winter Olympics in Italy.
Arif, in a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha and FIS president Johan Eliasch, stated that the sports ministry had noted in the Delhi High Court that SSI is not recognised as an NSF and its affairs are governed solely by its own memorandum, bye-laws and regulations as a registered society.
Arif alleged that a few IOA executive body members are pushing for SSI's recognition as an NSF due to vested interests, despite the officials having no knowledge of winter sports and not being concerned about the development of the sport and athletes.
The recent elections of SSI were held on the order of the Delhi High Court, with 18 units participating, including representatives from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand.
Tanveer Singh Bajwa was elected SSI president, and Mohammad Arshad general secretary in the 11-member board.
