New Delhi: Commonwealth Games (CWG) scam-tainted Suresh Kalmadi is set to preside over a crucial two-day congress of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) starting on Sunday, which will also vote on his re-election bid as the president of the continental body.
Kalmadi, who seeking his fourth term as head of the AAA, will be locked in a straight fight against Qatar Athletics Federation President Dahlan Jumaan Al-Hamad, who is also senior vice president of the Asian body, on the last day of the Congress on July 1.
The biennial Congress, which begins three days before the July 3-7 Asian Athletics Championships at a five-star hotel in Pune, will also be attended by IAAF President Lamine Diack, besides some top officials from the AAA and the world body.
The Congress, which is the governing body of the association, consists of a Council and not more than two delegates from each member of the AAA. However, each member country will have only one vote in the elections.
The Athletics Federation of India is likely to be represented by its president Adille Sumariwala and secretary CK Valson.
The other members of the AAA Council, a Senior Vice-President, Five Vice-Presidents and eight Executive Members, will also be elected.
The Secretary - Treasurer is appointed by the incoming president and it will have to be seen whether the incumberent - Maurice Nicholas of Singapore who has been holding the post for the last 40 years since the inception of AAA, will continue or not.
Kalmadi, who was jailed and later released on bail in connection with the Commonwealth Games scam, has been at the helm of affairs of the AAA since 2000. Though he has decided not to hold any sports post in the country, he is seeking re-election for the top job of the continental body.
Ironically, though, he will not be involved in any way in the conduct of the Asian Championships which is being held in his home town which he is representing in the Parliament. Kalmadi's candidature has got the backing of the AFI which said it did not want to lose a seat in AAA Council.
Kalmadi camp is confident that he will be re-elected though it appears to be heading towards a tough fight.
With Additional Inputs From PTI
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