Dehradun: Sports Ministry, Government of India has issued strict instructions to stop the manipulation of using players from outside the state by the State Sports Associations in National Games and National Championships. Through its letter dated 19 May 2025, the Sports Ministry has asked to submit separate details to the Ministry before the start and end of any National Games and National Championship.
In the Uttarakhand National Games, many players from outside states were in the field and also won medals for Uttarakhand. These players were brought in at the last moment. Many of them had no connection with Uttarakhand. To end such existing practice in the National Games, the new guideline of the Sports Ministry states that ‘Submit the eligibility criteria for entry of participants and representation of states / teams in the competition. Which includes the process and protocol for transfer of eligibility of the participant for representation from one state/team to another state/team (including meeting any residence/residence criteria and obtaining a No Objection Certificate).
No sudden inclusion or exclusion of any event in the National Games will be allowed. Whistle blower, reporting protocols and grievance redressal measures should be strictly implemented. As per the guidelines issued by the Union Sports Ministry, for the National Championships…
- Eligibility criteria for participant entry.
- If a state team is not invited to participate in the upcoming edition of the National Championships, then written explanation.
- The National Sports Federation will have to submit the list of participants.
On this whole matter, Uttarakhand Sports Director Prashant Arya says that this is not a new instruction. Rather, these rules are already prevalent. The rules are just reminded again and again. Regarding the reason behind this, he said that new players are constantly coming forward. Changes in federations and associations related to sports are constant and this is the reason why new people should also be made aware of these rules. Therefore, such instructions are issued again and again.
However, he said that all federations and sports associations are well aware of these rules. The player also has the freedom to participate from anywhere keeping in mind the 6-month obligation as per the rules. But despite this, if there is a complaint on any matter or any case comes to light, then action will be taken on it as per the rules.
On this subject, sports expert Raju Gusain says that if the ‘Eligibility Criteria for Participant Entry’ in the first point of the guidelines issued by the Union Sports Ministry is compared with the current situation of Uttarakhand’s sports associations, which do not host state championships and participate in national championships. With this new rule, this practice is going to end completely. Even using players from outside the state will become difficult.
Apart from this, he said that the way the matter of players from outside the state remained in the headlines after the National Games in Uttarakhand, it is definitely the effect of that that the Sports Ministry had to intervene in this. He said that National Games have been held before this as well but then the ministry did not say anything like this but now if the ministry is saying something like this then there are many big reasons behind it.
He said that the ministry has clear instructions that in the National Games, the player from outside the state has to declare the complete details 6 months before the game. A copy of which has to be given to the ministry as well. He said that during the National Games in Uttarakhand, which player is playing from where? It was not clear till the last minute. Now the government is also preparing to give a huge amount to these players. Many players did not take NOC certificate from their central departments and that too has to be taken 6 months in advance.
He said that the officers who are saying that this guideline is already in existence, there are no new instructions. But let us tell you that before this no such instructions were issued in Goa National Games and Gujarat National Games. Why did the ministry feel the need to issue these instructions only after Uttarakhand National Games?
