JAIPUR: Former Olympic silver-medalist Indian shooter and newly-inducted Bharatiya Janata Party member Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is locked in a legal tussle with the national federation, said it is important to get inside the system to fight its ills.
The current National Double Trap champion feels that sportspersons should have a bigger say in administration.
Talking to PTI, the ace shooter said he was fighting a battle of principles against the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI).
Rathore’s legal challenge against the NRAI elections had led to the Delhi High Court declaring the body’s polls as null and void.
“I feel that sportsmen should have a bigger say in the administration. In a democratic set-up, people who are being governed should also be a part of the governing system. They should be drafted into the governance,” Rathore said.
“No sports body can tolerate sportspersons getting united and stronger. We will have to find means and modes of getting sportsmen into administration of sports bodies,” added the marksman.
Rathore said such is the sorry state of affairs that even celebrated athletes find it tough to break through the administrative set-up.
“The situation demands that people should also be part of the government. I suggest that the common platforms of sportsmen should be recognized by the sports federations.
“The Government will have to find the means to fight this menace. The IOA has already accepted my suggestion of Athletes Commission and such bodies might help sportspersons get into administration and be a part of the decision-making process,” said Rathore, who heads the ad hoc body in the Rajasthan Shooting Association.
Praising the former Rajasthan Chief Minister and BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, Rathore said it is due to her that he has joined the party after leaving the Army.
“We have talked over certain plans and the fact that she is dynamic and not afraid of taking courageous decisions gave me confidence. She already did her bit for sports in the state during her tenure and we are hoping for a big leap for the state sports if she comes in power after the elections,” said Rathore.-PTI
