The pair of Varsha Gautham and Sweta Shervegar, who won the silver medal in the Asian sailing championship (ASC) in Jakarta recently, is unhappy on being ignored for the Asian Games to be held in August-September.
Yachting Association of India has instead selected Ekta Yadav and Shaila Charls who finished third in ASC. Actually, the duo of Ekta and Shaila had won the selection trials held in Chennai in April this year.
It seems that the YAI has not stuck to its own selection policy, which states, “The results of Indian athletes/teams at ASC will be provided to the internal and external selectors so as to select the best athletes/teams to represent India at the Asian Games.’’
In its defence, the YAI has put a clause: “YAI reserves the sole right to interpret this document and to use its discretion in the resolution of the matter in conflict or dispute.”
Thus, even as the sailors were preparing for the Asiian Championship, the YAI went ahead asking ‘select’ athletes to fill up forms for Asian Games, without making any official announcement of the team. It is understood that the YAI has called the selection committee meeting on Friday.
“We put in all our efforts and money into participating in the ASC, as it was supposed to be the nomination event for the Asian Games.
“We paid for our own flights and even had to transport the boat ourselves because the federation didn’t give us enough notice to load the boat in their container.
“Against all odds we cleared the boat through customs, during Ramadan, at a time when even banks are closed for 10 days.
“We trained, despite my crew having an injury and needing six stitches on her hand two days before racing,” said Varsha.
