Sports fraternity welcomes Kalmadi's defeat in Asian Athletics Association election

Bangalore/Pune, July 1 (ANI): The sporting fraternity on Monday welcomed the ouster of former Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi from the Asian Athletics Association (AAA).

Former athlete Ahwini Nachappa expressed happiness over Kalmadi's loss in the presidential elections of the Asian Athletics Association.

"Well as you said finally he has lost, that's kind of a mission accomplished for most of us, who have been from the clean sports. India is fighting it since 2010. What his loss has established is that no matter what happens there are morals and ethics one should follow in our sporting federations. Till you are kicked out, you remain in that same position," she told the media in Bangalore.

Rahul Mehra, a sports activist, on his part said Kalmadi had tarnished the image of Indian sporting fraternity.

"It's a welcome stand that you know somebody was able to defeat Suresh Kalmadi. But what is completely unacceptable is why his candidature was given for representing India in athletics," he said.

Meanwhile, Lamine Diack, the president of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), said that no one can point fingers at Kalmadi until the charges against him are proved in the court.

"He was a very good friend of mine, we worked together.Till now, the court did not decide that he is guilty. So, for me till the court doesn't say that he is guilty, he is not guilty," he told the media in Pune.

Kalmadi today lost the re- election to the office of President of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA), to Qatar's Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad.

Kalmadi, who is currently out on bail after serving 10 months in jail over alleged misappropriations during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, lost 18-20 while seeking re-election to a post he has held for 13 years.

Of a total of 45 votes (Athletics associations of member nations), 18 votes went to Kalmadi, while his Qatari opponent received 20 votes and 7 were declared invalid in the voting held in Pune today.

Kalmadi was first elected to the position in 2000 and was re-elected for a third time in 2009. Incidentally, this was the only sports body post that Kalmadi held. (ANI)