Sports Ministry’s top brass to skip Asian Games, focus on BRICS Games

File photo of Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao. (OR) NEW DELHI: Senior Sports Ministry officials, including Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao, have canceled their plans to travel to Aichi-Nagoya for the ongoing Asian Games. It is reliably learned that the top players will remain in the country to oversee the BRICS Traditional and Indigenous Sports Demonstration Games to be held on October 12-13 in Ahmedabad.Rao, who was scheduled to fly to Japan on September 28, changed his plans keeping in mind the importance of the BRICS Games. An official from the sports ministry denied reports that the move came because of India’s stunning show in Japan.“Secretary Sports (Rao), as the highest officer of the ministry, has decided to monitor the preparations for the Games, given the time left before the Games start, which would be difficult from Japan. Hence, he has canceled his trip to the Asian Games,” a source told TimesofIndia.com.It was also revealed that the Sports Ministry had always intended to reduce the contingent of officials as part of austerity measures. With the closing ceremony scheduled for October 4, Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) CEO Colonel NS Johal is one of the most senior officials available in Aichi-Nagoya.The organization of the BRICS Games is coordinated between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Government of Gujarat. Around 2,000 athletes, officials and other participants from nine countries including China, Russia, Iran and Bolivia are expected to take part in the non-competitive tournament. The Games will focus on showcasing traditional and indigenous sports and cultural practices from the BRICS countries.With India slated to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and bid to host the 2036 Olympics, both in Ahmedabad, successfully hosting the BRICS Games was seen as crucial to the country’s image as a sporting nation.