HC hopeful of IOA to increase AFI quota for participation in CWG 2022

Commonwealth Games participation so that additional athletes could take part in the event. The high court was hearing a plea by athlete Tejaswin Shankar, a high jumper challenging his exclusion from participating in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games (CWG).

The high court observed that an athlete has a career of only 4-5 prime years and they must be given maximum opportunities during this period. "Suffice it to state that this court is hopeful that IOA would increase the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) quota so that all five additionally selected athletes are included in the CWG contingent.

List on July 4 for further consideration," Justice Jasmeet Singh said. Shankar, in his plea, has sought to direct the AFI not to disqualify him from participating at the CWG 2022 based on non-attendance at the Interstate Senior Athletics Championships, and be allowed to participate based on having met the qualifying standard at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships.

The court also allowed the plea to implead IOA as a party to the petition and issued notice to it, asking it to respond by the next date of the hearing. During the hearing, advocate Parth Goswami, representing AFI and Selection Committee, informed the court that the selection committee held a meeting on June 22 and selected five additional athletes subject to the increase of quota by the IOA.

He said the committee has recommended the names of five more athletes, including Shankar, for participation in the games, and if the IOA agrees to increase the quota of AFI from the existing 36 athletes, these five would also be included in the contingent. In case the quota is not increased, the list of previously selected 36 athletes will be final,