From rxpgnews.com
India pulls out from three sports in Asian Games
By RxPG News Service,
Nov 24, 2006 - 11:36:06 PM
Doha, Nov 24 - India has withdrawn from the men's and women's basketball, sepak takraw and fencing events of the 15th Asian Games, the Indian Olympic Association - informed the organisers here Friday.
The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee announced here that that they have been advised by the IOA through a fax from New Delhi that it was withdrawing its basketball teams 'due to last minute unavoidable circumstances'.
Doubts on India's participation were raised Thursday when the Indian team failed to turn up for its opening match against Bahrain at noon without information. The referee awarded the match to opponents.
There have also been some doubts about the football team's participation.
But an All India Football Federation - spokesman said from New Delhi that the team would surely take part, even if the federation has to bear the cost of the passage.
'The team will definitely take part in the games. The IOA has so far not informed us whether it will bear the cost or not,' he said.
'But if the IOA or the Indian government refuse to bear the team's passage cost, AIFF will bear the same.'
The Indian team is in Dubai where it is training. It is scheduled to fly to Doha Monday and play its opening Group D match against Hong Kong Wednesday.
The Indian sports ministry has so far cleared 387 athletes of 24 sports disciplines, and rejected eight sports, including football. The IOA had proposed a list of 589-strong contingent.
The Asian Games will be held from Dec 1-15.
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