India, Oct. 23 -- World Karate Federation (WKF) has criticised the Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha for designating a "suspended ex-referee" as coach of the Indian karate team at the recent Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

India (IOA) had sent two karate athletes -- Alisha Choudhary and Chetan Bhatt -- to the Games in Japan. The sport in India has been in long-term governance crisis with multiple bodies staking claim as the national federation. The issue is being heard in courts. The sports ministry had asked IOA to form an ad-hoc committee to run the sport. While a two-member team was selected following trials after a court order, controversy arose over who would be sent as coach before a team leader was cleared.

In a strong lette...