Symphony turns into cacophony at PCI felicitation

It was meant to be a felicitation ceremony for World Para Athletics Championship medallists but that became secondary as the Paralympic Committee of India today took to counting its own achievements instead.
The issues ranged from PCI being forced to pay 40,000 pounds as cancellation charges at a hotel in London, which hosted the World Para Athletics Championships, to blind para- swimmer Kanchanmala Pande's "begging" controversy, at a function here.
The function was meant to felicitate the World Para Athletics Championships gold-medallist javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar, high jumpers -- Sharad Kumar (silver) and Varun Bhati (bronze), Amit Kumar Saroha (silver in club throw) and Karam Jyoti (bronze in discus throw) but PCI president Rao Inderjit Singh focussed on the many problems that the body faces.

The PCI chief said the Federation had sent names of 50 Indian para athletes for participating in the recently- concluded competition at London, but the government approved the names of only 30 and hence the rooms booked for 20 other sportspersons had to be cancelled.
"I am very proud to say that PCI managed to chip in and pay 40,000 pounds as the cancellation charges and we did not ask the government to pay for it," said Inderjit.
Regarding Kanchanmala, who took part in the Berlin Para Swimming Championships with five others, being forced to borrow money in Berlin from a friend, Inderjit said the committee has conducted an enquiry and has found discrepancies in her statements.

"We are still looking into the matter," he assured.

Gurjar, who bagged a yellow medal at the recent championship, meanwhile rued the missed opportunity to participate at the Rio Paralympics, saying he was "not guided" properly about when to enter his name for the competition.
But the PCI chief was quick to cut him short, saying that now that Gurjar has got a gold medal, Rio must be forgotten.
"Rather than focussing on the negatives, we should see how well our athletes have done in the recent competition at London and encourage them to do better in future," Inderjit insisted.

Gurjar said he was happy to have left the Rio disappointment behind and win a gold at the World championships.
"I am happy to have come out that disappointment and win a medal here. Now I am looking forward to winning gold in Asian Games in 2018," said Gurjar.
The two silver medallists -- Sharad and Saroha -- were also present on the occasion, while Rio medallist Bhati and Jyoti could not be present.
"I had missed a medal at the Rio Paralympics. That was not my day. But I am very happy to have bagged a silver in London with a World Record timing, so I am very happy," said Saroha.

Sharad said it was important to support para athletes so that more medals can come India's way.
"Para athletics has grown immensely over the years. It has undergone a drastic change. I would request everyone to let this awareness grow further, so that more people can bring in medals for the country," said Sharad.