Jharkhand expects Dhoni to grace National Games

Jharkhand Olympic Association on Monday said they expect India cricket captain MS Dhoni to attend either the opening or closing ceremony of the 34th National Games to be held in the state.

"If Dhoni is available, we will certainly invite him as one of the guests on the inaugural or closing day of the National Games," said Games organising secretary SM Hashmi.

Originally the Games were slated to start on November 30, but the Indian Olympic Association accepted a request by Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) for extension and could announce fresh dates soon.

"We don't know when the dates will be announced. But will be ready with infrastructure when the IOA announces new dates," Hashmi, also the Secretary-General of JOA, said.

He dismissed apprehensions that the IOA might slap the Rs one crore mandatory fine for failing to hold the Games in this calender year.

"It is not our fault because the previous Games in Assam had been delayed," contended Hashmi.

The IOA had last year resolved to impose a fine to the tune of Rs one crore if a state fails to host the Games on time.

Jharkhand, however, would not attract the fine as the IOA itself had announced the postponement of the Games in New Delhi recently, said another JOA official.