Sports persons sceptical about change in NGOC director

Ranchi: As countdown to the November 21 National Games has already begun, a sudden replacement of the

Director of the National Games Organising Committee (NGOC), P C Mishra, has cast doubts among the sporting fraternity on the successful organisation of the Games in Jharkhand. "With just 50 days left, the sudden replacement will definitely impact the Games``, said Jharkhand Wrestling Association President Bholanth Singh. Posting Mishra to the Forest department, the adminsitration yesterday entrusted the additional charge of Director Art, Culture, Sports and Youth affairs to Inspector General of Police (Provision) S N Pradhan. "It is very challenging," Pradhan, a former Vizzy Trophy player, said adding, "It is a run against time." However, Olympians Sylvanus Dung Dung and former women`s hockey captain Savitri Purti were sceptical. "If at all they wanted a change, why had they not changed two months ago. I don`t think it was judicious enough to change now when final touches are being given to the Games," Purti claimed. Corroborating Purti`s views, Dung Dung said Mishra had experience and had been in the thick of things for the past several months. "Now it will make a difference," the 1980 Moscow Olympic medal-winning hockey star, said. The NGOC had on September 29 sent the competition schedule to all state olympic associations and national sports associations asking them to send entries before October 15 to facilitate arrangements for players, technical experts and other officials. Thirtythree disciplines to be covered from November 21 to December 5 Games are scheduled in three cities of Jharkhand. Bureau Report