Narinder Batra Resigns as President of the Indian Olympic Association

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• May 25, 2022 | Guriya Khatun

According to reports, Batra announced that he would not and that he was not going to run for another term as president of the Indian Olympic Association.

Digital Desk: Narinder Batra, the president
of the Indian Olympic Association, resigned from his post on Wednesday, reports
stated.

This
comes only weeks after the CBI opened a preliminary investigation into his
suspected theft of public funds. 

Since
2017, Batra, who is also the president of the International Hockey Federation,
has led the IOA.

Unknown
Hockey India officials are also being investigated by the CBI. 

Batra
is accused of misappropriating Rs 35 lakh from Hockey India (HI) for personal
gain.

According
to reports, Batra announced that he would not and that he was not going to run
for another term as president of the Indian Olympic Association.

"At a time when world hockey is
going through an important development phase, with the promotion of Hockey5s,
the formation of a new competition this year-the FIH Hockey Nations Cup-and the
launch of fan-engaging platforms and activities," Batra said in a
statement.

As
a result, I've decided not to seek re-election as President of the Indian
Olympic Association (IOA)," Batra added.

Batra
also stated in the statement that the time had come for "someone with a
fresh mind and new ideas" to take over as IOA president.

"I
believe the time has come for me to hand over this responsibility to someone
with a fresh perspective and new ideas to take Indian sports to new heights and
to work tirelessly to bring the 2036 Summer Olympics to India," Batra
said.

"It's
been a privilege and a tremendous honour to serve as President of the IOA
throughout my term," he said. "Throughout my term, I've been guided
by one goal only: the good and betterment of Indian sport."

The
Indian Olympic Association elections were scheduled for December but were
cancelled owing to legal difficulties. 

The Delhi High Court has received a
petition questioning its composition.

The plea alleged that it was not in sync with the National
Sports Code and the International Olympic Committee charter.