Bogey! Ministry Favours Igu

Takes Surprising Decision To Grant Interim Recognition To Golf Federation

- G.Rajaraman

IN A SURPRISE U-turn, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has granted ‘interim recognition’ to the Indian Golf Union (IGU) within weeks of its decision not to give a fifth recognition and effectively withdrawing its annual recognition to the national sports federation administering golf in the country.

Just over five weeks earlier, the ministry had effectively withdrawn recognition to the IGU. It then wrote to them indicating that it had reconsidered the issue of renewal of annual recognition and decided to grant IGU interim recognition for 90 days from August 9. No reasons were specified for the review.

“The interim recognition is the last opportunity given to IGU to put in place duly elected governance and comply with NSDSC, 2011,” the ministry’s letter to IGU said. “During the period of interim recognition, IGU will not be entitled to any financial support directly or indirectly from the government as was the condition during the last extension granted to IGU.”