News
Delhi HC orders EFI to select more Equestrians as Asian Games Probables
In a common order dated March 7, 2023, the Delhi High Court allowed the writ petitions[1] filed by horse riders and directed the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) to permit all the riders who participated in either the V-3 or V-5 selection processes to attend the coaching camps and participate in the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) events in Europe.
The court emphasised the need to provide the country’s athletes with a “supportive ecosystem” and urged the EFI to emphasise talent and not focus on hyper-technicalities. Reprimanding the federation for preventing the petitioners from making it to the list of probables, the court remarked that a sportsperson “belongs to the field and stadium, not to the corridors of the Courts”.
In the beginning, the selection criteria, V-3 was followed for the selection of core probables and accordingly, core probables for each stream were chosen in June 2022. Later, a new selection process (V-4) was introduced, and rectified, after which the federation introduced a new criterion, V-5. The athletes so chosen in this manner are required to undergo training at coaching camps and participate in the FEI events. Based on their performance in said events, riders would be selected to be part of the Indian Equestrian Team for the 19th Asian Games scheduled to be held in China this year.
The court observed that selecting more core probables will assist the final Selection Committee to choose the best candidates to represent the country in the 19th Asian Games and bring glory to the nation. Hence, the Delhi High Court directed the EFI to allow all equestrians who had taken part in either of the selection processes to attend the coaching camps and participate in the FEI events.
[1] 1) Chirag Khandal v. Equestrian Federation of India & Ors. [RP No.54/2023 in WP(C) 16490/2022]
2) Shashank Singh Kataria v. Equestrian Federation of India & Anr. [WP(C) 1070/2023]
3) Yash Nensee v. Equestrian Federation of India & Anr. [WP(C) 1199/2023]
