On the recently-held Tent Pegging World Cup Qualifier in Better Noida, horsemen of Indian nationality represented Nepal
NEW DELHI: Have you ever ever heard of sportspersons from a rustic symbolize one other nation in a high-profile competitors the place World Cup participation is at stake? Effectively, one thing like this occurred in India every week again.
In an inexplicable and baffling flip of occasions, 4 horsemen of Indian nationality represented Nepal on the recently-held Tent Pegging World Cup qualification occasion in Better Noida. The match was organized by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI), together with Equiwings Sports activities, from March 16 to 18 below the aegis of Worldwide Tent Pegging Federation (ITPF), whose headquarters are in Muscat, Oman.
There have been 5 groups that took half within the occasion: India, Pakistan, Belarus, USA and Nepal. Out of the seven competitions held on the qualifiers, India claimed six gold medals and one bronze to complete first with a complete of 515 factors and certified for the World Cup, which is scheduled to be organized in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2023. Pakistan got here second and had been adopted by Nepal in third place.
As per ITPF guidelines, 4 or extra groups should take part for a legitimate World Cup qualifier. Shockingly, it was later learnt that the horsemen (4 in quantity) driving for Nepal had been all Indians. Additionally, the names of the Indian riders representing Nepal had been wrongly spelt and no surnames had been written on the end result sheets.
The four-member Nepalese staff, in keeping with the end result sheet, was: Yogandar, Golam, Kepil and Vinay. Their precise names are: Yogender, Gulam Mohamed, Kapil and Vinay Kumar. All of them are Indian nationals.
The EFI, which is conducting its personal investigation, has written to the ITPF and flagged the problem. The federation has additionally written to the Equestrian Federation of Nepal and requested an evidence. In regards to the gaffe, EFI secretary basic Col. Jaiveer Singh stated that the federation did not consider conducting any background test because the names had been coming from the Nepalese federation. He squarely put the blame on his Nepalese counterparts.
“The Nepal federation okayed this. The Nepalese federation despatched the names to us. The ITPF okayed Nepal’s participation. That is why we thought that these gamers have to be real. As soon as a nationwide federation of a rustic says these are the gamers who’re going to symbolize them, we undergo with it. Nepalese residents don’t require visa to go to India. So our most important focus was on Pakistan and USA. I used to be vigorously pursuing the visas of Pakistan and the American groups,” Col. Jaiveer advised TOI.
The Nepal Olympic Committee has denied giving permission to any Nepalese passport holding nationwide to take part within the occasion.
“The ITPF will take a call quickly on this situation and even when Nepal is disqualified, then 4 nations are left and the requirement to conduct the qualifier is of 4. This does not have an effect on India’s qualification. I’m anticipating a reply from the Nepalese federation in a day or two. The jury for the match got here from overseas. One choose was from Oman and one from Sudan. They by no means raised any situation. If they’d obtained a whiff of issues, they need to’ve raised this with the ITPF instantly,” Col. Jaiveer added.
One of many contributors turning up for Nepal was Yogender (title on end result sheet Yogandar). TOI obtained in contact with him. He stated, “One individual named Mr Suriya obtained in contact with me and requested me to take part within the occasion. He requested me to experience for Nepal. He advised me that he represented the Nepal federation. I had gone to Better Noida for the Nationals and completed fourth in that championship. The man who obtained in contact with me will need to have seen me carry out on the Nationals.”
A supply throughout the EFI gave one other viewpoint. “As a result of prevailing Covid state of affairs, the visas of Pakistan and USA groups had been getting delayed. However as per ITPF guidelines, minimal 4 groups should take part for a legitimate World cup qualifier to happen. That is why a staff of Indian riders within the title of Nepal was made up and entered for the occasion. As these riders had been identified to many individuals current on the venue, questions had been naturally raised as to how these Indian riders obtained the permission to symbolize Nepal,” the supply stated.
