2023-08-15 20:30:00
16 August 2023, 02:00 AM IST
New Delhi: Gymnast Dipa Karmakar has expressed displeasure and anger over the action of the Sports Ministry, which did not include her in the Asian Games team despite being the first in the trials. On Independence Day, Deepa took to social media to lash out at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Sports Ministry. Deepa was humbled by the Sports Ministry’s decision not to send those who topped the trials but were not in the top eight places in the Asian rankings to the Games.
Dipa was the fourth runner-up in the Rio Olympics. Deepa has been out of competition for a long time due to being suspended for 21 months following being caught under drugs, not competing during the Covid period and being injured twice. The ranking of the last 12 months is considered for the Asian Games selection.
Deepa said that the action of Sai and the Sports Ministry is a confidence breaker.
“I have been waiting for the Asian Games for two years. I was denied the opportunity to participate in the Games because I passed the trials but might not meet the sports ministry criteria. No one has officially informed us regarding not being included in the team yet. Preparation for a sports competition requires hard work. Instead of appreciating this, Sai and the Sports Ministry have been brutally silent. Selection for all sports should be equal and transparent. This uncertainty must end. I am continuing to train with the belief that I will make it to the team,” said Dipa.
Deepa’s name was on the list sent by the Indian Olympic Association on July 15. Dipa was supposed to compete in all round, balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault team events. Then the issue of ranking came up. Instead of Deepa, Pranathi Das and Pranathi Naya will compete in these events. The football team was relieved by the government’s decision to send only those who belong to the eighth rank. She approached Deepa Sai requesting for such relaxation but she did not inform her of the decision.
Dipa, who has won medals at the Artistic Gymnastics World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Championships, missed out on the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics by a margin of 0.15 points.
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