New Delhi, India’s lower-than-expected medal haul in high-yielding disciplines like athletics and badminton was scrutinised at the Sports Ministry’s review of the country’s Asian Games performance here on Thursday with questions raised about injured athletes travelling to the mega-event.
It is reliably learnt that injuries to key athletics stars such as hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, and triple jumper Praveen Chithravel, which were stunningly revealed during the Games, were raised by Usha when Athletics Federation of India advisor Adille Sumariwalla presented his analysis of the performance. The meet was chaired by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and was attended by Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, Indian Olympic Association President P T Usha, Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and representatives of the National Sports Federations . “The Minister was very clear that there is no dearth of resources and the NSFs can no longer complain about financial support. The federations have to deliver. The National Rifles Association of India was represented by its Secretary Pawankumar Singh.
They have to not just make presentations but deliver on the ground,” a top official present in the meeting told PTI. “At this point, the Minister intervened to say that instead of specific cases, the focus should be on analysing the overall performance,” the source said. The Boxing Federation of India , which is celebrating a landmark performance that includes an unprecedented three gold medals, promised to deliver more if provided “continued institutional support”.
