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The h2o polo squad entered the contention displaying the country’s emblem successful a rectangle signifier connected their trunks, which they ideally should person exhibited connected their skull caps (Screengrab, Getty Images)
New Delhi: The organisers of the Asian Aquatics Championships, presently underway successful Ahmedabad, person courted contention aft India’s men’s h2o polo squad sported the country’s nationalist emblem connected their swimming trunks – the authoritative contention cogwheel – during the contention rounds, starring to allegations of disrespect to the tricolour.
Officials successful the sports ministry and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) sought a study from the Swimming Federation of India (SFI), the hosts of the championships. The h2o polo squad entered the contention displaying the country’s emblem successful a rectangle signifier connected their trunks, which they ideally should person exhibited connected their skull caps.
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When TOI contacted the swimming federation, the officials assured that the country’s emblem would beryllium displayed connected the skull caps and not connected the trunks henceforth.
“It’ll beryllium done successful matches ahead. The teams from different participating nations are wearing their nationalist flags connected their contention gear, but we bash recognize the Indian sensitivity,” said an official. SFI maintained that it was arsenic per World Aquatics’ (previously FINA) rules which let having a state emblem and its placement connected the contention suit. The World Aquatics’ wide rules for azygous and flags authorities that “a emblem and state codification are permitted with a size bounds of 32 cm² connected aquatics caps successful championships”.
However, the contented chiefly pertained to the usurpation of the ‘Flag Code of India 2002’, which is governed by the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’. The Code explicitly prohibits “using the emblem arsenic portion of a costume, uniform, oregon accessory worn beneath the waist; embroidering oregon printing the flag’s plan connected items similar undergarments, cushions, handkerchiefs, oregon napkins and to interaction the crushed oregon way successful water”.
Poll
Do you judge the Indian men's h2o polo squad disrespected the nationalist emblem by wearing it connected their trunks?
Yes, it's disrespectfulNo, it's portion of the uniform
According to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) charter, displaying nationalist flags is not mandatory for participants and is governed by the prime of athletes and their nations.
