FDR cries discrimination, accuses PCI of manipulating trials

NEW DELHI: With just eight days to go for the Para Asian Games, the Federation of Disabled Rights (FDR) on Wednesday accused the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) of manipulating the results of the selection trials and said they were subjected to discrimination at every step of their life.
The Para Asian Games is scheduled to start in Incheon, South Korea from October 16, but the Sports Authority of India is yet to come out with the complete list of the Indian contingent.
The FDR claims that the athletes, who have booked their berth for the Para Asian Games, are still blind about their escorts, who often turn out to be relatives of PCI officials or government officials.
"On the 16th of this month the Para Asian Games is going to start in Incheon but the federations have not finalised the list of sportspersons as yet. There was a trial to finalise the list almost two months back.
"However, it is appalling to see that officials have been working to nullify the results of the trials as in some of the events the candidates of their choice have not performed up to the mark," said FDR secretary general Pradeep Raj at a press conference on Wednesday.
"At the eleventh hour the list of their choice would be finalised and they would send their relatives as escorts with disables sportspersons," he said.
Raj said that after a great struggle, they were finally successful in getting the list of the 13-member table tennis team from SAI officials, but there too injustice was meted out to an athlete.
"The Table Tennis Federation of India conducted the selection trials for Para Asian Games but even after 50 days the final list of players has not been disclosed, forcing us to approach SAI, who, too, was reluctant to give us the list. But after much drama and police intervention, the SAI officials finally gave us the list but it didn't include the name of Vijay Kumar who came first in the trials.
"Instead in his place a scientist with good government connection, who came second, has been included," said Raj, whose wife Swarna Raj is part of the 13-member para table tennis team.
"Para athletes still don't know who are in the team. The government tells us we don't bring medals but if 7 days before the event the team is not decided, escorts are not decided how can you expect medals. The PCI will send their relatives and friends as escorts at the last moment," Raj complained.
Raj said their repeated efforts to bring the matter to the notice of the sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal went in vain and they have now decided to hold a demonstration in front of the sports ministry on Thursday.
The FDR also lodged an FIR in the Lodhi Road police station against the PCI and TTFI over the fraudulent selection of the para table tennis team.
Swarna Raj, who will be competing in para table tennis in Incheon, said disabled athletes are subjected to discrimination from "cradle to grave" in India.
"We play a tournament in four years without any camp, any coach. Is this not discrimination?" she asked.
"We are given a single table in one corner to practice and asked to practice with one ball whereas able table tennis players, who don't pose a chance of winning medals, are given all the facilities," Swarna Raj said.
"The government talks about equal rights but inspite of winning medals we are not treated the same way as able body medallist."