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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Centre and others on a plea moved by Para-Taekwondo Association (India) and directed them to conduct selection trials of athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in China.

A single bench of Justice Yashwant Varma while hearing the plea issued notice to the Centre, India Taekwondo, Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and Sports Authority of India (SAI).

The petitioner had sought an order declaring India Taekwondo incompetent for the selection of Para-Taekwondo athletes for world championships.

The petitioner had further sought a direction from the Centre and IOA to create a proper body for conducting trials and selections of sportspersons for national and international championships for Taekwondo.

Advocate Prabhat Kumar and Anjali Jain, the counsel for the petitioner, argued before the court that Para-Taekwondo Association (India) is a duly recognized body for the selection of Para-Taekwondo athletes by the Paralympic Committee of India and World Taekwondo Federation.

The counsels submitted that India Taekwondo, contrary to the established procedure and guidelines of the World Taekwondo Federation, has cut all ties with the petitioner and declared its selection trials for various championships.

Furthermore, the petitioner's counsels stated, “Once a body is banned by this hon’ble court to conduct any selection trials for the able-bodied athletes, it cannot be allowed to do so for the differently-abled athletes as well”.

It was also contended that the petitioner needs to conduct selection trials for the upcoming Asian Games in China in September 2022, for which the trials have to start by May, and the petitioner can only do so, once the high court gives directions regarding the aforesaid.

The court has listed the matter for hearing on May 19, 2022. [Source: ANI]