JUDGMENT : The National Games for the year 2023 have already begun. Going by the schedule of Games, the competition in the discipline of Volleyball is between 02.11.2023 and 06.11.2023 at Panaji. However, it transpires that a decision was taken by the 3rd respondent – which is stated to be the Adhoc Committee in charge of the Volleyball Federation of India (‘Federation’ for short) – to cancel the championships, solely because there are internal rifts between the persons in the administration of the said Federation. 2. I do not propose to go into the details of the conflict within the Volleyball Federation of India; but suffice to say, the learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent – Indian Olympic Association, Sri.Piyush Kumar, explained that because of this, his client had to appoint the 3rd respondent – Adhoc Committee, in June 2023. He then explained that the Adhoc Committee is focused on conducting elections to the ‘Federation’ and that since they were also busy with the just concluded Asian Games, they obtained no time to devote for selection of team to the National Games. He then added that, therefore, the Volleyball competitions have been cancelled for the National Games; and that a National Championship for the said discipline is now proposed, but was unable to inform this Court the specific dates for the same. In fact, his submissions were that it is only after the office bearers of the ‘Federation’ are properly elected, can the same be done. 3. It is rather distressing that persons like the petitioners who are Volleyball players and were training hard for the National Games for the last several months – have been placed in the present predicament. Their chance to participate in the prestigious National Games has been now thwarted, solely because there are conflicts among persons who were expected to be in administration of the ‘Federation’. This power conflict has unfortunately reached a situation where the competition in Volleyball itself has been taken out of the National Games; and one wonders whether it would be of any consolation for the petitioners, that it would be substituted by a National Championship, to be held sometime in the future, depending upon the elections to be conducted within the ‘Federation’. 4. 4. I do not propose to speak any further, because it would be of no consequence now because, Sri.Piyush Kumar affirmatively says that the competitions in Volleyball for the National Games have been cancelled, through a letter issued by the 3rd respondent to the Game Administrators, on 21.10.2023. 5. However, this Court will not be found in error to have expected the Indian Olympic Association to have kept the itinerary of the National Games in mind, while appointing the 3rd respondent, who certainly could have then conducted the trials, they being now in charge of the ‘Federation’. The explanation given to this – that they were busy with the conduct of elections to the Federation and the Asian Games – certainly, offers little solace to the petitioners and other players. 6. Therefore, since the competition in Volleyball for the National Games is stated to have been already cancelled, it would serve no purpose for this Court to ask the Kerala State Sports Council to send any team, even though their learned Senior Counsel, Sri.K.Anand, instructed by Smt.Latha Anand – learned Standing Counsel, affirmed that a fully trained team is available, who could have taken part in the Volleyball competition with full expectations of bringing back laurels to the State. The learned Senior Counsel added that, in fact, last year, the Kerala Team – both men and women – had brought Gold Medals in Volleyball to Kerala; and he was very passionate when he asserted before this Court that it is rather unfortunate that the internecine disputes within the ‘Federation’ has now reached a situation where the players are forgotten and their legitimate aspirations jettisoned. 7. In the afore scenario, this Court can do nothing more than to hold empathy for the situation of the petitioners; but before parting, it is necessary to say that, in the interest of the game, the Indian Olympic Association ought to have resolved the disputes within the ‘Federation’, keeping in mind the schedule of National Games and without disturbing it; but alas, this has not been done, but they appear to have chosen the easier path of cancelling the competition in Volleyball itself. This Writ Petition is thus closed.