CSI hail Ajit Pal`s appointment as chef-de-mission

New Delhi: Clean Sports India, a movement for corruption-free sports in the country, today hailed the appointment of hockey Olympian Ajit Pal Singh as the chef-de-mission of the Indian contingent for this year`s London Olympics.

Three-time Olympian Ajit Pal yesterday became the first sportsperson from the country to be given the honour to head a contingent in the Olympic Games after a seven-member committee of the IOA, which was formed to appoint the chef-de-mission for the July 27-August 12 Games, unanimously selected the former hockey star. "We are happy that the IOA has selected a sportperson for this honour. We congratulate IOA Acting President V K Malhotra and Secretary General Randhir Singh for taking this decision" Clean Sports India convenor B V P Rao said. "We have opposed many things done by the IOA, but we have never hesitated in appreciating a good decision or a gesture. Ajit Pal Singh`s appointment is indeed creditable", he said. "For the first time the post has gone to a sportsperson and we hope this trend continues in the future", he said. Ajit Pal Singh, captain of India`s lone World Cup-winning side in 1975, is also the chairman of Hockey India Coaching and Development Committee. PTI