The
sailing fraternity has found gaping holes in the selection
of
athletes for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and has
questioned the liberal funding for novices through the scheme that is
meant for the best of the elite athletes.
While most of the leading sports persons in various disciplines are
just about getting the funds from the government scheme, in which selection is
supposed to be ''purely on merit'', two sailors who have got into the
Olympic boats in the 49er class only recently, have been drafted into
the scheme.
The two sailors, Varsha Gautham and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan, had won
the bronze medal in a field of six countries in the Asian Games in
Incheon last year, but in the 29er class, which does not figure in the
Olympic fleet.
The duo had a reality check in the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami,
early this year when they finished last among 40 teams, in the 49er
class.
In the World Championship in Santander, Spain, last year, Varsha and
Aishwarya had placed 53rd among 55 teams. It was also a qualifying
event for the Rio Olympics.
Subsequently in another World Cup in Abu Dhabi in November, the pair
finished 17th and last.
The Olympic field in the 49er class is supposed to have 20 countries,
and ten of them have already qualified from the World Championship in
Spain.
The Indian pair is supposed to be eyeing one of the 10 spots from
among 23 countries likely to be in the race for Olympic qualification
in the event.
While conceding that they were not against the young sailors getting
support, which helped them being based in Europe and compete regularly
in international events, the seasoned sailors questioned as to how
the two sneaked into a scheme that promised podium in the Olympics, at
the expense of more deserving classes.
Probing further, it has been pointed out that the men's 49er class has
also been supported by the government, and one of the two sailors in
that category happened to be the son of a council member of the
Yachting Association of India (YAI).
The two men, Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar, had also struggled
to avoid the last spot in the World Cup in Miami in January this year,
and placed 56th out of 58 boats. In the World Championship last year,
they were 77th out of 80.
While mysteriously keeping out such outstanding sports persons like
Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza, who have very realistic
chances of winning medals in the Rio Olympics, perhaps because they
are globe-trotting millionaire tennis players, the government has
apparently played into the hands of wily schemers who have taken it
for a nice sail, in pleasant sea breeze !
athletes for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), and has
questioned the liberal funding for novices through the scheme that is
meant for the best of the elite athletes.
While most of the leading sports persons in various disciplines are
just about getting the funds from the government scheme, in which selection is
supposed to be ''purely on merit'', two sailors who have got into the
Olympic boats in the 49er class only recently, have been drafted into
the scheme.
The two sailors, Varsha Gautham and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan, had won
the bronze medal in a field of six countries in the Asian Games in
Incheon last year, but in the 29er class, which does not figure in the
Olympic fleet.
The duo had a reality check in the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami,
early this year when they finished last among 40 teams, in the 49er
class.
In the World Championship in Santander, Spain, last year, Varsha and
Aishwarya had placed 53rd among 55 teams. It was also a qualifying
event for the Rio Olympics.
Subsequently in another World Cup in Abu Dhabi in November, the pair
finished 17th and last.
The Olympic field in the 49er class is supposed to have 20 countries,
and ten of them have already qualified from the World Championship in
Spain.
The Indian pair is supposed to be eyeing one of the 10 spots from
among 23 countries likely to be in the race for Olympic qualification
in the event.
While conceding that they were not against the young sailors getting
support, which helped them being based in Europe and compete regularly
in international events, the seasoned sailors questioned as to how
the two sneaked into a scheme that promised podium in the Olympics, at
the expense of more deserving classes.
Probing further, it has been pointed out that the men's 49er class has
also been supported by the government, and one of the two sailors in
that category happened to be the son of a council member of the
Yachting Association of India (YAI).
The two men, Ganapathy Kelapanda and Varun Thakkar, had also struggled
to avoid the last spot in the World Cup in Miami in January this year,
and placed 56th out of 58 boats. In the World Championship last year,
they were 77th out of 80.
While mysteriously keeping out such outstanding sports persons like
Leander Paes, Rohan Bopanna and Sania Mirza, who have very realistic
chances of winning medals in the Rio Olympics, perhaps because they
are globe-trotting millionaire tennis players, the government has
apparently played into the hands of wily schemers who have taken it
for a nice sail, in pleasant sea breeze !
Kudos to the writer for bringing this out in the open. Can this piece be an eye-opener to the Sports Ministry and the TOPS selection committee? "If you have ever won a medal anywhere, then you are good enough for a podium finish in Olympics" seems to be the motto! By the way, it is not just millionaire tennis players who have been ignored. An athlete like Tintu Luka who should make it to the Olympics in the 800m also had not been chosen in this elite batch. That she may be placed in the 4x400m probables should be of no great use to her since as an 800m runner her training and competition schedule cannot be comparable to the 400m runners. What a mess!
ReplyDeleteThank you sir. It is a pity and an absolute shame that blogs and tweets are required to open the eyes ! Tintu Luka is a classic example to highlight the ignorance of the decision makers.
ReplyDelete