Gulab Singh, 60, and his 19-year-old trainee Abdullah Arman Imdad combined to win a battle against the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) after the young rider from Assam sought the Court intervention. to compete in the Junior National Equestrian Championships at the Agram Riding & Polo Academy in the ASC Centre & College in Bengaluru from December 20 to 30.
“The Equestrian Federation of India is directed to grant an exemption to the Petitioner No.1 and Petitioner No.2 as a one-time measure till 31.12.2023 for participation of riders and horses respectively in JNEC 2023-24, subject to the Petitioners abiding by all other rules and regulations of the Equestrian Federation of India,” Justice Subramonium Prasad ordered.
Gulab Singh, who played the sport as rider for nearly three decades and has been a coach for more than a dozen years, and the young rider moved Court after EFI denied Abdullah Arman Imdad entry to the FEI Eventing Challenge held in November, EFI citing rules that riders and horses wishing to compete in events in India had to be registered with a EFI member club.
The petitioners told the Court that, historically, registration with EFI was the only criteria for riders and horses to compete in EFI events. A medallist in 2021, Abdulla Armam Imdad had sent his entry to the FEI event in Jaipur from Gulab Singh Equestrian, which is not am EFI member. He was afraid that he would be denied entry to the Junior National Championships, too.
The petitioners also pointed out that through the year the riders and horses competed in the Regional Equestrian Leagues, pathway to the National Championships, without routing their entries through EFI member-clubs. They alleged that the rules were amended without being thought through.
“It is only for the National Championships that the impugned conditions have been illegally introduced at a belated stage to jeopardise the future of hundreds of young athletes by disbarring them through illegal extraneous conditions,” the petitioners told the Delhi High Court in their Writ Petition.
On its part, EFI officials claimed that the rule was introduced to ensure welfare of horses. However, after agreeing to give Abdullah Arman Imdad an entry in the EFI events till the end of the month and Gulab Singh Equestrian a temporary membership until the end of the year, EFI has gone on to give exemptions to other riders and horses.
Curiously, EFI ratified the annual calendar first in its annual general meeting on July 9, 2023, and then in a requisitioned Extraordinary General Meeting on September 17. However, through a notice on November 9, EFI changed the venue of the Junior National Equestrian Championships from The Tollygunge Club in Kolkata to the Agram Riding & Polo Academy in Bengaluru.
When some members sought a stay on the conduct of the Extraordinary General Meeting, EFI claimed before Court that clubs had sought changes in the annual calendar and hence that had to be discussed an an emergency measure to ensure that the future of the sport would not be jeopardised.
The Rajasthan State Equestrian Association alleged that the meeting had been requisitioned only to ensure that the Secretary-General would continue in office even after his term lapsed. EFI argued before the Court that the Extraordinary General Meeting had been requisitioned by more than 50 members to discuss the calendar and the funding for the team for the Asian Games.
That Extraordinary General Meeting had approved an amended calendar. But if EFI Secretary-General could shift the Junior National Equestrian Championship on the basis of requests from athletes and stakeholders, many have been left scratching their heads about the real reason for the requisitioned Extraordinary General Meeting of September 17.
How can the federation continue to function in the absence of its executive Once events have been finalised in an Ectraordinary meeting how can venues be changed just on the saying of riders. There is more than than meets the eye
The Venue change was requested many riders and clubs from across the country for a very crucial and important reason.
The Tollygunge Club did not provide adequate time for the rest of horses after their long travel from various states. The TC had multiple events before and after the JNEC which created a very narrow window. In view of Horse Welfare, many riders, coaches and clubs requested the EFI to take a look at this. The EFI, rightly, considered this simply on the basis of horse welfare.
However, there has been an oversight at multiple levels by organisers and the EFI during the planning phase of the event. It has been the trend for multiple years that venues and calendars are drawn up very much relatively in the last minute. Much to the inconvenience of stakeholders. There is a dire need to bring the EFI, stakeholders and clubs together to make a constructive effort the move the sport ahead.