Jamshedpur, June 3: The battle between parallel state karate bodies is set to jeopardise the prospects of karatekas in the lead-up to the 34th National Games.
Both the Jharkhand State Karate Do Association (JSKA) and Karate Association of Jharkhand (KAJ) are staking claim to be the bonafide body authorised to run the affairs of the game in the state.
The JSKA, which was formed last week in the presence of All India Karate Do Federation (AIKF) functionaries led by R. Thiagarajan, is already bracing up to conduct the second phase of the National Games training camp to be held here later this month.
The KAJ, on the other hand, also made its intentions clear by organising a district-level camp.
Sources said problems began after arguments between the senior functionaries of two national associations, both known by identical nomenclature — All India Karate Do Federation (AIKF). The bodies are fighting three cases across the country.
While Thiagarajan leads one body, the other functions under Ramehswar Nirvan.
Thiagarajan is now calling the shots with claims that the AIKF under him is recognised by the World Karate Federation and Indian Olympic Association. Nirwan has already been suspended by the present AIKF for anti-federation activities.
Sources said that a major controversy is likely to crop up with the second phase of camp for the Games round the corner.
Both JSKA and KAJ are determined to organise the camp. KAJ had conducted the first camp and had also received funds from the government.
The karatekas are a confused lot now. Which is the real karate body is the question asked by several participants in the city.
“The camp will be conducted by us. There should not be any doubt about it,” said Nandji Prasad, the president of the KAJ. “KAJ has been functioning since 2001 and its membership to the AIKF has been wrongly terminated by Thiagarajan. The matter is subjudice,” Prasad said.
He added that they would file a case against the JSKA president L. Nageshwar Rao for misguiding karatekas, corporate houses and politicians by setting up a new karate body.
Rao, chief of JSKA, said they were authorised to conduct the second phase camp as they are recognised by the AIKF and also have 14 senior teachers under them.
