Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is set to meet para-shooters who have been protesting against alleged misconduct in the selection process for the upcoming Para Asian Games. This meeting is scheduled for Friday and aims to discuss the athletes’ grievances, which have gained significant attention following demonstrations at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters. The para-shooters have expressed their concerns vocally, extending their protests during a send-off ceremony for other Games-bound athletes held on Thursday.

The Para Asian Games are slated to occur in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 24. Amidst their protests, the athletes have raised a multitude of issues, particularly centring around claims of corruption and manipulation within the selection framework. A source from the Ministry indicated that these concerns touch on deeper systemic problems within the management of para-shooting.

“It is not merely about the Asian Games,” the source stated, highlighting that the Minister’s engagement aims to provide clarity and resolution to the issues raised by the athletes. The meeting is expected to address allegations of corruption, which have been a focal point of the protests.

Allegations Reported By Athletes

The protesting para-shooters directed a formal representation to the Director General of SAI on Wednesday. They claimed “illicit monetary extortion” and “brazen corruption” within the ranks of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and its Shooting Technical Committee (STC). The athletes have accused officials of violating the Ministry’s guidelines while selecting representatives for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Specific allegations include claims that athletes were coerced into paying a 20 per cent commission on government cash awards as a prerequisite for selection. Furthermore, the shooters have raised serious concerns about possible manipulation of international quota positions and qualification scores intended to favour certain competitors.

The representation also mentioned that the selection committee has purportedly neglected established Ministry criteria and replaced an earlier selection panel without providing justifiable documentation. A Ministry source remarked that while it may be challenging to alter the contingent now, the gravity of the allegations cannot be overlooked or dismissed without thorough investigation.

Cyclists Also Raise Concerns At SAI

In a related development, six para-cyclists who failed to meet the established selection criteria for the Games have staged a protest at SAI headquarters. However, this demonstration is not anticipated to significantly impact the delegation, as final entries have already been submitted for the upcoming event.

Currently, only Paralympian Arshad Shaik has received approval from the Ministry to participate. Arshad finished fourth among nine competitors during the recent Asian Para Road Championships and secured fifth place in the 1km time trial event at the Asian Para Track Championships, which featured eight athletes.

The protests from both para-shooters and para-cyclists underscore rising tensions within Indian para-sports, particularly regarding the transparency and integrity of selection processes. As the Games near, the responsiveness of the Ministry to these allegations will be closely observed by the sporting community.

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