India's Asian Winter Games participation hanging in balance

India's participation in the Asian Winter Games scheduled to be held in Harbin, China, from February 7, is in doubt after it was learnt that the organisers, the Olympic Council of Asia, on Sunday turned down accreditation requests for a new set of players in ice hockey and snowboarding.

- Avishek Roy

NEW DELHI:

On Sunday, the sports ministry cleared participation of a 23-member ice hockey team on the basis of trials in Leh with changes to the original team list sent by India. The Indian Olympic Association, it was learnt, reached out to the OCA requesting fresh accreditation but it has been refused, said a Winter Games official on condition of anonymity.

With the delegation registration meeting for the Games to be held on Monday, the IOA is awaiting a final sanction of the contingent from the Sports Ministry.