Politicians should head national sports federations, says IOA chief
Narinder Batra
The comments came despite the growing chorus of replacing politicians with sportspersons
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra on Saturday stirred a controversy by saying that politicians should lead the various national sports federations (NSF).
The comments came despite the growing chorus of replacing politicians with sportspersons to lead the various federations.
Batra further added that lawmakers at the helm is "good for Indian sports".
"Sixty out of the 66 medals India won in the CWG were by players from NSFs being headed by politicians. Badminton, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting, shooting to name a few are headed by politicians and they are giving medals to the country," Batra said at a felicitation function of the badminton players who have won medals at the CWG.
"Politicians heading NSFs are not bad but they are actually good for Indian sports," he added.
Batra also said that country should aim to win double-digit medals at the Tokyo Olympics and around 25 at the 2024 games in Paris.
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The IOA president feels that a good show will then help them gain public support in its bid to host the 2032 Summer Games.