Disabled players raise stink after CGF bars gold winner

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

Sportspersons belonging to the disabled category are disheartened over the Commonwealth Games Federation's policy that has stopped Indian athletes from participating in events such as wheelchair races, short put and 100 m race, even while the international contingent will be competing in these disciplines. The affected sportsmen have been protesting over the past one month demanding equality from the authorities, who in turn, claim that lack of facilities has hampered the inclusion of these events.

Javed Abidi, director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People says, "It is strange as to how the Ministry does not realise the value of such mistakes which they can clearly take charge for. Not including wheelchair races, where we already boast of so many medals, is to risk our country's dignity in an important international event. The overall medal tally will be drastically affected by such decisions." Abidi finds it disturbing that such decisions were taken due to lack of facilities as few ministry officials have claimed. He asks about the whereabouts of Rs 13 crore allocated for disabled sports, a small part of which could have easily provided all basic equipments and training to these athletes. Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill finally called them for a meeting after they staged a dharna in front of his office. The minister is expected to respond in a week to the demands.

While they linger on to some hope, Rajkumar — born with an orthopaedic handicap and a national level archery player — got a rude shock when the sports ministry told him that no disabled participant will be included in the main event. Participants in the main event of Archery have to follow international norms, and Rajkumar's handicap rules him out of the event. Rajkumar and his fellow players are clueless as to which authority they need to approach for redressal.

He laments. "It was extremely discouraging to remain a spectator in the selection procedure of my 'able' friends, when I knew I was at par with them to compete. If only I am provided with a stadium and equipment to practice, in a month, I will be ready for the competition." For the record, he won Gold in the 2009-10 National Games.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian on 16 May 2010—