Latest news with #BaljitSinghSekhon
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First Post
18 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Association of Indian Universities takes strict action after World University Games fiasco
The Association of Indian Universities has suspended their joint secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon and launched an investigation after multiple Indian athletes missed participation at the ongoing World University Games. read more Devyaniba Zala was another athlete who calimed missing World University Games due to admin mistake. Image: Devyaniba Zala on Instagram The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has suspended its joint secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon and instituted a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the 'mismanagement' that led to selected athletes missing participation in the ongoing World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The bronze-winning Indian badminton squad was mired in controversy when it came to light that six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating after Indian officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Badminton players awarded medal after missing Games However, the AIU said following negotiations with FISU (the international body for university sports), all 12 members of the squad have been awarded medals and certificates as is the norm. Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan were part of the 12-member squad but did not get to play. Woman quarter-miler Devyaniba Zala also alleged that she could not compete as her name went 'missing because of late alteration by the officials in submitting the confirmation list'. 'The inquiry panel will investigate the entire matter and to ensure that it works impartially, we have decided to suspend our joint secretary Baljit Singh Skehon. The panel will submit its report within 15 days,' AIU Secretary General Dr Pankaj Mittal told PTI. 'In addition, the AIU has also ensured that athletes who were denied participation due to the manager's mistake have been given certificates and medals by FISU. This was after we held discussions with FISU,' Mittal added. Sekhon was at the helm of the Indian delegation that is currently in Germany and was responsible for the drafting of the names of officials and athletes which were finalised for the Games that will conclude on July 27. The panel will be headed by Anil Kumar Kalkal, who is the vice chancellor Guru Ghasidas University in Bilaspur. Kalkal and Birender Singh are the two members of the committee. Earlier, a livid Sports ministry also took note of the development. 'Clearly, they are unable to manage the affairs properly. Probably, the solution is a separate federation to handle administration. A revamp is needed because university sport is our best bet to find high-potential athletes,' a ministry source said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It is obviously sad that something like this happened and the country was embarrassed. This will be thoroughly looked into,' he added.
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
AIU joint secretary suspended after gross mismanagement at World University Games
On the directive of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has suspended joint secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon after controversies related to mismanagement in athletes participation emerged from the ongoing World University Games in Rhine Ruhr, Germany. Sekhon is head of the Indian delegation and currently in Germany. He was one of the key officials responsible for shortlisting officials accompanying the Indian contingent for the July 16 to 27 World University Games. The administrative panel of AIU, in an order dated 22 July 2025, has set up a four-member panel to probe the criticism that has embarrassed the nation on a global stage. 'In view of the communication dated 21 July 2025 received from the Office of the Executive Director, Sports Authority of India (SAI), and recent reports published by various national media outlets concerning the reported non-inclusion of Indian athletes, exclusion of designated coaches, procedural lapses in the registration process, and penalties imposed for non-compliance with jersey specifications during the FISU World University Games 2025 (Germany), the Hon'ble President of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)… hereby place Dr. Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary under suspension with immediate effect,' the letter in possession of The Indian Express read. The four-member panel set by AIU on Tuesday will probe official apathy and mismanagement at the ongoing World University Games in Germany and will have to submit its inquiry report within 15 days. Earlier on Tuesday, Association of Indian Universities (AIU) had come under the scanner of the Sports Ministry following allegations of 'mismanagement and incompetence' at the ongoing World University Games in Germany. The Ministry wants to revamp the organisation after introduction of the National Sports Governance Bill in Parliament on Wednesday. The bronze-winning Indian badminton squad at the ongoing Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, found itself in controversy when it came to light that six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating after Indian officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16. 'It is clear that the body is unable to manage University sports. University sports is our best bet to create world-class athletes and still there are so many gaps leading to mismanagement,' a sports ministry source said. 'A revamp is needed and the solution is to have a proper functioning federation instead of nodal bodies to operate University sports,' the source added. While AIU and Sports Games Federation of India (SGFI) are not counted as National Sports Federations (NSFs), they remain the representative bodies for events like World University Games conducted by International University Sports Federation. Apart from the badminton gaffe, athletics also suffered as names were removed from the start list at the last moment. Quarter-miler Devyaniba Zala took to Instagram to point out that her name went missing from the start list at the last moment. 'I was told that I will run in 400m and Relays when they selected me for the University Games. However, my name was not present in the start list for the 400m due to the causal approach,' Zala told The Indian Express over a phone call. 'I was in good shape to run my personal best and have been preparing for this event for a long time,' she added. Similar to Zala, Federation Cup silver medalist Seema couldn't compete in the 10,000m event as her name was missing too from the entry list. Adding to the selection blunders, AIU was also fined 1000 euros for flouting the jersey regulations in badminton. As per the BWF rules, the last name, as recorded in the BWF database, and if desired, the initials of first name can be printed on the back of a jersey. The same rule was followed at the 2025 World University Games. However, in a violation of the rule, the Indian jerseys had full names of the players printed on the back. 'This is gross negligence and ignorance,' a player said on the condition of anonymity. The efforts to reach AIU officials via phone and text went unanswered.
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
AIS Joint Secretary Baljit Singh Sekhon Slapped With Suspension Following WUG Debacle
Last Updated: Multiple Indian athletes were barred from taking part in their respective events due to administrative errors, including misspelling of athletes' names in a national embarrassment. Joint Secretary of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Baljit Singh Sekhon, has been handed a suspension by the governing body's administrative department following the World Universities Games debacle in Germany. Multiple Indian athletes were barred from taking part in their respective events due to administrative errors, including misspelling of athletes' names in a national embarrassment. The incident caused widespread outrage and flagged the failures of the administrative unit as multiple athletes missed out on their events despite being present at the venue during the time of the competition. The Indian badminton team, which secured bronze at the ongoing Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, faced controversy when it was disclosed that six of the 12 selected players were prohibited from participating due to officials' failure to correctly submit all names during the managers' meeting on July 16. Female quarter-miler Devyani Bazala also alleged that she couldn't participate in her event as her name went missing because of late alteration by officials in submitting the confirmation list. The AIU has since formed a four-member panel, to probe into the mismanagement, and has been instructed to submit their findings within a period of 15 days. The panel is set to look into the non-inclusion of selected athletes, the exclusion of designated coaches and the penalties imposed by the event organisers in addition to any procedural lapses, and recommend corrective and disciplinary measures in accordancw with their findings. 'The inquiry panel will investigate the entire matter and to ensure that it works impartially, we have decided to suspend our joint secretary Baljit Singh Skehon. The panel will submit its report within 15 days," AIU Secretary General Dr Pankaj Mitta said. 'In addition, the AIU has also ensured that athletes who were denied participation due to the manager's mistake have been given certificates and medals by FISU. This was after we held discussions with FISU," he added. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 10:06 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
AIU suspends joint secretary Sekhon for World University Games fiasco, ensures medals for shuttlers who missed out
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has suspended its joint secretary, Baljit Singh Sekhon and instituted a three-member inquiry panel to investigate the 'mismanagement' that led to selected athletes missing participation in the ongoing World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. The bronze-winning Indian badminton squad was mired in controversy when it came to light that six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating after Indian officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16. However, the AIU said following negotiations with FISU (the international body for university sports), all 12 members of the squad have been awarded medals and certificates, as is the norm. Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan were part of the 12-member squad but did not get to play. Woman quarter-miler Devyani Bazala also alleged that she could not compete as her name went 'missing because of a late alteration by the officials in submitting the confirmation list'. 'The inquiry panel will investigate the entire matter, and to ensure that it works impartially, we have decided to suspend our joint secretary, Baljit Singh Skehon. The panel will submit its report within 15 days,' AIU Secretary General Dr Pankaj Mittal told PTI. 'In addition, the AIU has also ensured that athletes who were denied participation due to the manager's mistake have been given certificates and medals by FISU. This was after we held discussions with FISU,' Mittal added. ALSO READ: Sports tribunal, athlete centricity among key features in Sports Governance Bill to be tabled in Parliament Sekhon was at the helm of the Indian delegation that is currently in Germany and was responsible for the drafting of the names of officials and athletes, which were finalised for the Games that will conclude on July 27. The panel will be headed by Anil Kumar Kalkal, who is the Vice Chancellor of Guru Ghasidas University in Bilaspur. Kalkal and Birender Singh are the two members of the committee. Earlier, a livid Sports Ministry also took note of the development. 'Clearly, they are unable to manage the affairs properly. Probably, the solution is a separate federation to handle administration. A revamp is needed because university sport is our best bet to find high-potential athletes,' a ministry source said. 'It is obviously sad that something like this happened, and the country was embarrassed. This will be thoroughly looked into,' he added. Related Topics World University Games
News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Probe panel set up after 6 Indian players barred from World University Games
Last Updated: New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has suspended its joint secretary and set up a four-member enquiry panel to probe lapses that left six Indian badminton players unable to compete at the ongoing World University Games in Germany, officials said on Tuesday. The probe was ordered amid growing outrage over the exclusion of selected athletes and designated coaches, as well as penalties imposed for non-compliant team jerseys. The controversy erupted after only six of the 12 selected Indian badminton players were allowed to participate in the mixed team event because officials allegedly failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16. 'In the interest of upholding accountability and procedural propriety, AIU hereby places Baljit Singh Sekhon, Joint Secretary under suspension with immediate effect," the AIU said in its order. There was no immediate reaction available from Sekhon. An Inquiry Committee has been constituted to examine all relevant records and communications related to the registration and management of the Indian contingent at the FISU World University Games 2025. The panel has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. 'The Committee shall determine the facts concerning the non-inclusion of selected athletes, exclusion of designated coaches and penalties imposed by event organizers. It will also identify any procedural lapses, fix responsibility and recommend appropriate corrective and disciplinary measures," the order said. PTI GJS GJS KSS KSS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 21:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
