Indian gold medallist ignored by authorities, leaves event midway

LUCKNOW - Indian athlete and Asiad gold medallist Sudha Singh left a racing event midway in a huff here Saturday after being “completely ignored” by the Uttar Pradesh state sports authorities.

Singh, who clinched the gold medal in the women’s 3000 metres event at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, was invited as a guest in the women’s open cross-country racing that was flagged-off by the state’s Sports Minister Ayodhya Pal at the Charbagh stadium.

“I was completely ignored… I was even not allowed to stand at the starting point for encouraging the participants… It makes you feel very sad, particularly when you are sidelined in an event that takes place in your home state,” Singh told reporters at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium, where she came after leaving the event.

“I even made efforts to meet the (sports) minister and other sports officials… But no one bothered about me and then I preferred leaving the event. I am quite upset about the treatment meted out to me during the event,” she added.

Singh also expressed displeasure over the delay in starting the event because of the late arrival of the sports minister.

According to sources, the start of the cross-country racing event that was organised by the Mahavir Prasad Mahila Mahavidyalaya was delayed as the sports minister arrived at the venue one hour late.

“The event was to start at 7 a.m. but it was flagged off after 8 a.m. after the minister reached the spot,” an official said.

“Delayed start in such an event becomes problematic for participants particularly during winters when they (participants) have to work a lot to warm-up before racing,” said Singh, who is a native of Rae Bareli in the state.