IMPHAL, FEB 22: The National Games Technical Conduct Committee (GTOC) has decided to expell the Services athlete K Sanjeevan who allegedly misbehaved with a Manipuri girl at the Games Village. Although the GTOC is yet to announce their decision officially, convenor AK Surjit told The Indian Express that a decision to this effect has already been taken. The Services have, however, denied the involvement of their player in any such incident. Sanjeevan is still at the Army Hospital here recovering from the injuries he got after some players beat him up after the incident.Meanwhile, the National Games Organising Committee has thrown out the entire wrestling team of Rajasthan from the Games Village. This occurred after the recognised Rajasthan Olympic Association chief Janardhan Singh Gehlot complained that the team had not been cleared by his Association.In fact, they had not been cleared by Gehlot as the Rajasthan wrestling Association under AK Dutta is loyal to the rival group led by Nathu SinghGujjar. The Indian Olympic Association has, however, recognised the Gehlot group.Dutta alleges, the police refused to register First Information Report (FIR) even as the male wrestlers had to receive stitches for their injuries. The women were later allowed to compete in the events which started from the 19th of February. Meanwhile, there were problems in taekwondo too. Here the story is of two teams from the same state. Once again politics within the federation and among officials are forcing the players to face the consequences. A battle between Harish Kumar and Jimmy Jagtiani over the control of the Taekwondo Federation of India has left a number of players in the cold.With politics and violence steadily increasing, the National Games this time is getting attention for entirely different reasons. The image of sports has been tarnished, perhaps beyond repair. Even though the Manipur government has done everything to ensure the success of the Games, they had overlooked the fact that infighting amongofficials and indiscipline among players might well leave their adventure a disaster. That is exactly what is happening now and the organisers are finding it difficult to handle them.``Why should we suffer due to politics among officials,'' the taekwondo players wanted to know. ``Our only crime was that we were tipped to win medals,'' the wrestlers said.
