4 hrs ago
Indian Rowers Protest Last-Minute Asian Games Event Changes
Indian rowing teams were changed shortly before their Asian Games races.
Some rowers say they were removed from events they had prepared for.
Reserve athletes were reportedly placed into some first-team crews.
The changes upset several athletes so much that some reportedly stopped eating.
Arvind Singh and Balraj Panwar were moved between different boat events.
Rowers say the changes may have gone beyond a rule allowing half of a crew to be changed for medical reasons.
The rowing competitions were due to begin on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, typhoon conditions delayed an equestrian event, and a Thai badminton player was provisionally suspended after a doping finding.
Indian rowers say they were shifted from their original Asian Games events shortly before competition began.
Several athletes reportedly experienced serious mental distress, with some refusing food after the changes.
Arvind Singh was moved from single sculls to quadruple sculls, while Balraj Panwar moved in the opposite direction.
Rowers allege that several crews were completely altered, despite a rule allowing 50% changes for medical emergencies.
Separately, typhoon conditions delayed equestrian eventing, while badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh became the Games' first reported doping case.
- Who
- Indian Asian Games rowers, including Arvind Singh, Balraj Panwar, Saurav Kumar, Vipul Satish, Nitin Kumar and Jaswinder Singh.
- What
- Athletes were reportedly moved between events and replaced in some crews shortly before competition.
- Where
- India's rowing camp at the Asian Games.
- When
- The changes were reported after a team-managers meeting on Monday, with rowing competitions beginning Wednesday.
- Why
- The changes followed the team-management process; officials cited a rule permitting 50% crew changes during a medical emergency, while rowers disputed how the rule was applied.
Rowers' Claims
Official Position
Extent of the changes
Rowers' Claims
Several rowers said they were removed from their preferred events and that reserve athletes were inserted into first-team crews.
Official Position
A senior rowing official pointed to the rule permitting changes to up to 50% of a crew in a medical emergency.
Compliance with the rule
Rowers' Claims
Athletes alleged that some crews were changed completely, exceeding the permitted 50% alteration.
Official Position
The official account established the 50% medical-emergency provision but did not confirm whether every reported change complied with it.
Effect on athletes
Rowers' Claims
Rowers described the decisions as deeply distressing, with some reportedly refusing food.
Official Position
An official tracking the team acknowledged that some athletes were not in good mental shape and said the situation was not going well.
Key facts
- Affected event
- Asian Games rowing
- Reported timing
- Changes were made after a Monday meeting of team managers.
- Competition start
- Rowing competitions were scheduled to begin Wednesday.
- Rule in dispute
- A senior rowing official said 50% of a crew can be changed during a medical emergency.
- Reported athlete impact
- Some rowers were described as very disturbed, and some reportedly had not eaten.
- Other Games disruption
- Typhoon Dujuan led organizers to postpone equestrian eventing from Monday to Tuesday.
- First reported doping case
- Thai badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh tested adversely for furosemide and was provisionally suspended.
Quotes
An unnamed rowing official
Official tracking developments within India’s rowing team
“The sample was collected from Thailand's badminton player Pitchamon Opatniputh during an out-of-competition doping control on September 17 in Nagoya.”
rediff.com
“Some rowers have not taken food yet as they are in a disturbed state of mind. They are not knowing what to do.”
rediff.com
Sources
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