New Delhi. Allegations of sexual misconduct involving two national coaches exacerbated the problems engulfing Indian sport and had the head of the Olympic association running for cover this week at the launch of the Commonwealth Games tennis center.
The New Delhi Commonwealth Games have been plagued by delays in the construction of infrastructure and venues, which should have been finished months ago for test events but instead are just starting to come on line now, cutting it fine with competition set to commence on Oct. 3.
The problems within hockey and weightlifting ranks in the last week have only sharpened the focus on trouble in Indian sports.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India, the financial powerhouse in the international game, was already under investigation from federal tax authorities over perceived irregularities in the running of the immensely popular, multibillion dollar Indian Premier League.
The head of the IPL is under suspension and investigation by the BCCI and the tax regulators, but denies any wrongdoing.
As have the field hockey and weightlifting coaches at the center of controversies involving allegations relating to young, female athletes.
India’s Sports Minister M.S. Gill said his ministry would investigate the allegations against the hockey and weightlifting coaches in a “professional and impartial way.”
The ministry confirmed it was investigating allegations against M.K. Kaushik, who resigned as India’s women’s coach after player Ranjita Devi complained to Hockey India that he’d sexually harassed her during the recent Canada and China tours.
The Sports Ministry also announced it was withdrawing weightlifting coach Ramesh Malhotra from a national training camp after Olympic bronze medalist Karnam Malleswari alleged that Malhotra had been sexually harassing athletes for a decade.
The weightlifting federation suspended Malhotra on the weekend pending an investigation led by IWF vice president Kumbasi Subramanya.
Malhotra denied he’d ever “misbehaved” with any members of the women’s women weightlifting team, telling the Press Trust of India that Malleswari’s allegations were “false” and aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
Kalmadi has spent the last year defending New Delhi’s preparations for the Commonwealth Games — the first major multi-sport event to be staged in India since the Asian Games in 1982 — insisting that the event will be a major success.
Associated Press
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