Younger people should come into sports administration: Maken

New Delhi: Sports Federations should not be headed by politicians but by those having sports background, the new Sports Minister Ajay Maken said today, vowing to work in this direction on a priority basis.

He said he will try to "firmly convince" the sports bodies to ensure that younger people take control of the federations for the upliftment of sports in the country. "We need to ensure that sportpersons get more responsibility in sports bodies. I will see to it that it happens", Maken told PTI hours after he was given independent charge of the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry. Maken, who will take over tomorrow, said that he was of the view that politicians should not head the sports bodies unless they are young and have the background in that particular discipline. "If age is on their side and they have played the game, then only politicians should head the federations of any sports", said the young Minister, adding that he would carry forward his predecessor M S Gill`s ideas in this context. When referred to some federations where old people were still refusing to go, he said he will try to firmly convince them rather than fight about the need to give chance to youngsters. About the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Commonwealth Games, Maken said that he would like the investigations to get over as soon as possible. "If anybody is found guilty, he should be punished severely. We want to move ahead". Maken said he will work for promotion of sports in the country and lay special emphasis on scouting talent in the rural areas as his aim would be to ensure that India gets more medals in the 2012 London Olympics. PTI