30 days to go for CWG, but Indians yet to get their cycles

Patiala: With just 30 days to go for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, the cyclists of the Indian team are yet to get their all important equipment.

The decks have been cleared for the import of 40 high quality cycles which will be arriving here in 10 days – barely few weeks before the Games, a senior functionary of the Cycling Federation of India said here on Saturday. CFI President Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa told reporters that here that three years ago the Federation gave a list of equipment required for the cycling event to the Sports Ministry. “I have written letters to the Prime Minister and received the sigh of relief when I heard that the orders of 40 cycles were placed”, said Dhindsa. The CWG steering committee also approved the import of 88 high quality cycles a year ago, said Dhindsa. The Ministry has released the funds to Sports Authority of India (SAI), the sole body on importing all the sports equipment and materials. Asked why the Federation did not import cycles on its own, Dhindsa explained, “We cannot do anything on our own. The Sports Ministry and SAI only can import equipment.” Sources said that sports ministry had released funds to SAI which passed the responsibility to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to import the cycles. The IOA got the permission to import cycles last month. The Indian Olympic Association has made it clear to the Ministry that it won’t take the blame if cycles could not be imported on time as it was given the responsibility at a short notice, sources said. Dhindsa said no IOA official was willing to import the cycles without following the procedure laid down by Central Vigilance Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General and the other watchdogs. He, however, lamented the role of Ministry in the delay of import of cycles. “We have asked for 88 cycles and now only 40 will be imported.” PTI