CWG 2018: Indian athletes ready to
CWG 2018: Indian athletes ready to "Rang De Tiranga" in Gold coast
Share:

 

On the eve of Gold Coast 2018, as most nations went into the ‘Games mode’, India squabbled over accreditation and accommodation of its officials. On Tuesday morning, Saina Nehwal threatened to pull out of the Games if her father Harvir was not allowed to stay inside the Athletes Village. By evening, Harvir’s privilege was upgraded.

Around the same time, the weightlifters made a demand that their physio, Aakrant Saxena, be allowed inside the Village to help them in their recovery process. However, fell on deaf ears. This means India’s best medal prospects, including world champion Mirabai Chanu, will now be without a physio when they open their campaign on 5th April. Both, Harvir and Saxena, arrived in Gold Coast as ‘personal coaches’ of their respective athletes. However, as per the rules, personal coaches are not allowed to stay inside the Athletes Village since they are termed as ‘extras’ and not part of the official contingent. They could only enter the residential area during the day time.

The email followed a series of angry tweets by Saina, in which she said she had paid for her father’s travel and was ‘surprised’ to find out that his name was missing from the team official’s list. To avoid an embarrassment of its star athlete pulling out on the eve of the opening ceremony. India’s chief of delegation Vikram Sisodia said he ‘spent the half of the day trying to convince the organisers.

Join NewsTrack Whatsapp group
Related News