World Archery warns AAI of suspension, suggests June 24 as new poll date

Kolkata (PTI): World Archery on Monday warned the Indian federation AAI of "immediate suspension" if it goes ahead with two separate elections on June 9.

The suspension would mean that the Indian team competing in the World Championships would only be able to compete under a World Archery flag and not the national flag.

Extending an olive branch to the de-recognised Archery Association of India (AAI), World Archery (WA) has also appointed its first vice-president Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol as the "mediator" in the process. Chapol will hold a meeting with the two AAI factions in New Delhi on June 7 in an effort to cancel both the elections and instead hold one election on June 24.

The cost of the meeting will also be borne by WA. "We have reached the cut-off point at which we can no longer continue to support any federation in India unless progress is made," Tom Dielen, World Archery Secretary General, told PTI from 's-Hertogenbosch on the sidelines of WA Congress.

"It is our priority to come to a resolution with a member association in India that provides stability and a positive environment for the athletes to succeed internationally, especially with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on the near horizon."

In a rare scenario, AAI's two faction groups -- one with former president Vijay Kumar Malhotra and the other with the last chief BVP Rao -- has issued two elections notices on June 9, albeit in two different cities of New Delhi and Chandigarh.

Former Jharkhand chief minister and newly-inducted minister in the Narendra Modi government, Arjun Munda is in the fray for the post of president. While the BJP MP from Khunti has filed his nomination at the New Delhi election, Rao is also seeking to be re-elected from the Chandigarh polls.

Dielen further said WA has no intention of interfering in the results of an election. "We also do not want the situation to become more confused, which is why we have given clear instructions as to what will and what will not be accepted by the World Archery Executive Board."

Earlier, Dielen met the AAI secretary general Maha Singh and assistant secretary Gunjan Abrol on the sidelines of the WA Congress and shot off a letter to AAI with a copy to president of Indian Olympic Association Narinder Batra.

In a strongly-worded letter, Dielen stated that it's a violation of democratic rules. "WA and WAA have strong reservations on the fact that on June 9 in two quite distinct locations elections will be held which could result in two presidents and boards.

"Not only does this contravene any type of good governance, it is simply violating any democratic rule since not all officially mandated delegates can be in two locations at the same time.

"It is therefore both WA and WAA's position that should such dual elections take place, the results will not be recognised by WA," Dielen warned.