Kalmadi says IOA sole possessor of F1 rights

New Delhi, Sept 1 (UNI) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi today hinted that IOA was the sole possessor of the right to bring Formula One race to the country.

Reacting to reports that F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has given ''sole authority'' of the F1 project in India to liquour baron Vijay Mallya, Mr Kalamadi said, ''Bernie's letter had come only to IOA and we have moved quite a bit forward on it.'' ''Everything is going on time and things are moving forward,'' he added though without further elaboration.

''I will speak to Mr Mallya. He is a friend of mine and a fan of Formula one,'' Mr Kalmadi said at a meeting of national sports federations here.

The IOA has proposed to stage an ambitious F1 race in 2009 and the Capital has been a frontrunner in staging the race.

UNI