Bringing good news to motors sports lovers in the country, the Government of India has gone ahead to recognise it as a proper sport. The sports ministry confirmed this move through the National Sports Federations (NSF), which added Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) to its list. The Indian motor sports fraternity is going through a quiet phase and currently all efforts are being made to bring back India back on the Formula One Grand Prix calendar. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) pulled the Indian Grand Prix off its calendar for the 2014 season due to issues related to tax and the bureaucracy.
Though the ministry has included motor sports in the “others” category, it will not be providing any sort of financial help to FMSCI. However, this inclusion does not boost India’s chances of getting on to Formula One calendar as that primarily depends on Jaypee Group (organisers) and Formula One Management (commercial rights holder).
Vicky Chandhok, the ex-president of FMSCI, appreciated the step taken by the government and expressed positivity. In an interview to PTI, he said, “This can only be good for Indian motor sports. Interestingly, the government never de-recognised FMSCI, it just took the body off the recognised NSFs list in 2011 and it has re-recognised us. And the reason there was a lot of criticism surrounding government’s apathy towards motor sport was because that was the time when Formula 1 came to India for the first time (in 2011). The Indian motor sports was in the limelight like never before.”
The implication of being in “others” category and not getting any financial support did not bother Akbar Ebrahim, a member of the FMSCI council, who said that FMSCI should adhere to all guidelines provided by NSF.
“Just three weeks ago, we received a letter from the sports ministry stating that it now recognises FMSCI. The federation was always an affiliated member but to get a NSF status, we have to comply fully to the ministry’s guidelines including the one on age and tenure limits (of office bearers). Whatever amendments needed to comply with ministry guidelines were done and submitted to the ministry. The whole process took about six months,” he was quoted as saying.
