Procedure for Selection of Sportspersons/Teams

The selection of sportspersons/teams for participation in major international events is the responsibility of National Sports Federations(NSFs) concerned. However, the Government appoints eminent sportspersons as Government Observers, who maintain oversight on the functioning of the respective NSF they are assigned, and give their feedback to the Government. One of the major functions of the Government Observer is to oversee the selection of the national team, and ensure that it is based on a well defined objective criteria. Further, with a view to ensuring fair and transparent selection, the Government has issued guidelines requiring the NSFs to communicate the detailed selection criteria/norms, schedule of trials etc. to the players, coaches, Government Observers well in advance. Selection criteria differ from sport to sport. In some sports like Tennis, Chess etc. the selection is made on the basis of national/international ranking while in sports like boxing, wrestling etc. it is made on the basis of selection trials and some sports followed the procedure of national/international ranking with selection trials. The National Coaches are required to evaluate the performance of players on regular basis. The Selections are required to be done by a Selection Committee comprising President of the NSF as Chairperson, the National Coach and eminent ex-sportspersons, preferably Arjuna Awardees as members. The Minister further stated that any reports of discrimination in selection of sportspersons are appropriately resolved in consultation with the NSF, Sports Authority of India and the Government Observer. The Government satisfies itself regarding proper selection of national athletes/teams before clearing their participation in international competitions. This was stated by Shri Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Lok Sabha today, in a written reply to a question by Shri Surendra Singh Nagar.

The Government does not maintain any such record of sporting events of National/International sports competitions lost during each of the last three years and the current year, the Minister added.