Delhi HC Orders EFI to Clarify Asian Youth Games Selection

New Delhi, Sep 4 (PTI): The Delhi High Court has ordered the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to file an affidavit within three weeks that outlines the selection process for the Indian team participating in the upcoming Asian Youth Games. This directive comes following an appeal by another athlete challenging his exclusion.

The Asian Youth Games are slated to take place in Manama, Bahrain, from October 22 to 31. The court’s decision was prompted by a writ petition from show jumping athlete Vaasvi Khaitan, represented by her father Vedant Khaitan, contesting her omission from the eight-member probable team announced by the EFI.

Despite having considerable international experience, including at FEI events, Vaasvi will not be competing in Bahrain as India’s entries had to be finalized by August 31. Sixteen-year-old rider Fateh Jahan Singh Dhaliwal has also sought legal intervention through his mother, seeking the annulment of the existing team roster and adjustments to the rider selection process for the Asian Youth Games.

On September 1, the court recognized that since the athlete names have already been submitted and the deadline has passed, it might be impossible for Vaasvi to participate. Justice Sachin Dutta instructed, “Let an affidavit be filed by the EFI setting out the criteria adopted for selection of the athletes. Let the affidavit also disclose the selection criteria to be adopted for future events within three weeks.” Athletes named in the current squad for the games include Avik Bhatia, Arun Kumar Harshiyt, Jaiveer Varma, Bhoowan, Krishna Sahithi, Ranbir Singh Dhillon, Jaiveer Nagra, and Shubh Chowdhari.

Amidst the selection disputes and internal disagreements within the EFI, experts suggest that the organization requires fresh elections to curb the chaos and ensure efficient administration.

Colonel Rajesh Pattu, a decorated athlete with multiple Asian Games medals, criticized EFI Observer S Y Quraishi's report to the High Court as biased. Pattu, who has won medals in three Asian Games and received the Arjuna Award in 2003, pointed out inconsistencies in the report and called for a transparent approach to EFI meetings and decision-making processes. He further noted the issues arising within the EFI, like unauthorized participation in meetings and decisions, which leads to confusion especially ahead of major events such as the Asian Games and the Paris 2024 Olympics. Colonel Pattu, currently training in Germany for the 2026 Asian Games trials, continues to highlight these concerns.

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