New Delhi, Sept 20: Medal winners and record setters will be subjected to stringent dope tests for the first time during the South Asian Federation Games. Speaking in the Capital today, Suresh Kalmadi, president of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said the tests will further add to the credibility of the Games, being held at Kathmandu from September 25 to October 4.A 232-member Indian team comprising 160 men and 72 women will leave for Kathmandu in four batches. The team will be accompanied by six doctors, two physiotherapists and five masseurs.
Boxer Dingko Singh, India's star performer at the Asian Games in Bangkok last year, will be the flag-bearer of the Indian contingent at Kathmandu.The IOA president also informed that multinational giants Coca-Cola will sponsor the Indian team, who have dominated the event in the last seven editions. Kalmadi however, expressed dissatisfaction with Doordarshan.
``Doordarshan officials should be aware of the magnitude of the Games, but unfortunately, they arejust interested in cricket," he complained.
Doordarshan will cover the opening and closing ceremonies and also telecast the semi-finals and the final of football live. Besides, DD will telecast half-hour highlights capsule in the evening, every day. ``The highlights should atleast be of an hour's duration,'' Kalmadi felt.
Meanwhile, secretary general of the IOA, Randhir Singh announced that India would be hosting the Afro-Asian Games in November, 2001.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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