SC says politicizing sports is bad for all.

• The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to ensure the participation of the women’s kabaddi team in the Senior Asian Kabaddi Championship hosted by Iran.

• The court criticized the politicization of sports administration and the stranglehold of former judges and bureaucrats over sports bodies.

• Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh emphasized the need for democratic values in sports administration.

• The court was hearing a petition filed by two national kabaddi players, Priyanka and Pooja, seeking direction to the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) to send the women’s team to Iran.

• Three veteran kabaddi players questioned the authority of the ban imposed on the AKFI by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF).

• The court asked Mr. Mehta to explore diplomatic channels for resolution of the conflict regarding the recognition of sports associations, particularly the AKFI.