Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Rise and fall

How to avoid such embarrassments in future

PHOTO: AFP

UPSET Hungry to perform

The debacle faced by athlete Santhi has generated a lot of heat in sports circles. Born in a poverty-stricken family at Kathakkurichi, a village near Pudukottai, Santhi's rise to the top through her performance at the Doha Asian Games surprised many. But it was short lived as Olympic Council of Asia decided to withdraw her medal as she failed a gender verification test.

Shocked on hearing the news, former athletes from Tiruchi unanimously plea for necessary steps to avert such unpleasant incidents in future. The athletes also feel that the incident should not be allowed to cast doubts in the minds of budding sportspersons.

Cause needless fear

P. Subramanian, who represented India in 200m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, says that the incident might cause needless fear among rural athletes.

"Whatever happened has happened and it is better to look forward. It is a rare case and in no way should prevent young village girls from taking up athletics. Bulk of the talent is available in rural areas and hence more coaching camps should be conducted. Youngsters with the hunger to perform should be encouraged."

A personal insult

"Unlike doping, the gender issue affects not just the athlete's professional career but also her personal life. This should be taken into consideration and in future, athletes whose gender is under suspicion should not be allowed to participate in international events unless the medical panel clears them. Through this the private life of the athlete could be saved. Another aspect, which I want to stress, is the need for more sports appointments to deserving athletes," the former national record holder in pentathlon, K. Rajam says.

N. Annavi, former international high jumper, feels sorry for Santhi losing her medal despite having braved all odds to reach such a level. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi for granting Rs.15 lakh to Santhi, although her medal was stripped. The Government should also encourage athletes, who perform well in junior and senior national meets with cash awards, which would help them to meet the expenses while participating in events."

Make it mandatory

The triple-jump gold medallist at the 1991 Colombo South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, K.S. Mohamed Nizamudeen says that Athletic Federation of India should make it mandatory that all women athletes, who get selected for the national camp, should undergo a gender verification test and adds the move will help tackle such embarrassing situations in the future.

And his wife and former international athlete, Mujitha Nizamudeen has no second opinion on that. "Let's hope that such incidents don't happen again," she says.

G.PRASAD

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail