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Probe likely into India's Olympics fiasco

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Union Sports Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa Saturday indicated that he will announce a probe into the miserable performance by Indian athletes at the Sydney Olympic Games.

He will take action once his deputy, Shah Nawaz Hussain, who is leading the Indian contingent, returns and submits his report.

Though India had sent a 113-strong contingent, that included 75 athletes, only Karnam Malleswari managed a medal for the country. Malleswari won a bronze in the 69-kg category in weightlifting for women.

Hussain had stated in Sydney on Friday that the country needs to know why we could not do better at the Games.

"I have seen media reports. I understand that there was a vast difference between the performance of Indian athletes at home and at Sydney. Since this difference is vast, in some cases it is necessary to find out how these athletes were selected and their approval was sought by the Indian Olympic Association, from the ministry of sports. I agree with Milkha Singh that we have to get to the bottom of this," Dhindsa told rediff.com.

The Flying Sikh had told rediff.com early this week that a thorough probe had to be ordered into the manner Indian athletes were selected.

According to sources close to Dhindsa, a three-member committee will probe the issue. Eminent sports personalities like Bishen Singh Bedi, Singh, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and several others are under consideration.

The sources also pointed out that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is upset about reports that some officials of the IOA and other federations had gone to Sydney for a picnic. Some officials went to venues even when athletes from those sports were not representing the country.

"What were they were doing in Sydney when they had no athlete participating on behalf of the respective federation? Why did a stenographer of the chef de mission go along? How many letters were dictated to the stenographer in Sydney? Why did he not make use of facilities provided by the host country?" asked a top official of the ministry of sports.

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