Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court has rejected the All Maharashtra Wushu Association’s plea to declare the results of the state junior and sub-junior selection trials held in Sept, and ordered fresh trials on Oct 22, 23 and 24 under an independent expert committee.
The order, passed on Thursday, came amid allegations of irregularities in the trials conducted by the association between Sept 4 and 8. The court took note of a communication dated Oct 13 from the joint director of sports to the Wushu Association of India secretary general. The court also directed authorities to give wide publicity to the fresh trials so that no eligible athlete is denied an opportunity to participate.
The court said players selected through the fresh trials would represent Maharashtra at the upcoming national Wushu championships organised by the Wushu Association of India. A division bench of Justice Nitin B Suryawanshi and Justice Abasaheb D Shinde directed the joint director of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Maharashtra, Pune, to ensure a transparent selection process open to all eligible athletes across the state. The letter flagged alleged administrative irregularities in the functioning of the state association.
The main writ petition will come up for further hearing on Oct 26. Because of administrative disputes, it recommended an independent expert panel to ensure athletes do not lose national-level opportunities, academic grace marks and career milestones.
The sports department told the court that players’ interests must remain paramount under the National Sports Code.