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Indian gymnastics coach Bishweshwar Nandi has slammed the Sports Authority of India’s selection criteria after Indian star gymnast Dipa Karmarkar was denied participation in the upcoming Asian Games despite acing the selection trials. One of India’s top performers from the 2016 Rio Olympics, Karmarkar was out of action under a 21-month suspension due to a doping violation from 2021.
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But after these troubled times, Karmarkar had set her sights on a return to the Asian Games and was considered a medal prospect. But after a successful trial, the SAI didn’t include the 30-year-old gymnast under a rule regarding a top 8 finish in the last two years. Addressing this regulation, Nandi expressed that SAI will destroy Indian gymnastics over the next few years with these antics
While speaking to the Indian Express, Dronacharya awardee Bishweshwar Nandi said, "She told me she wants to be in gymnastics for the next 2-3 years and will not give up despite this. But this decision to randomly pull out some rule to stop gymnasts from going to Hangzhou will destroy Indian gymnastics."
The rule Nandi referred to was set on July 10 under Clause 1 which reads: "In individual events during the last twelve months prior to the commencement of the event, the performance of the sportspersons should not be less than the performance achieved by the 8th position holder of the 2018 Asian Games in measurable sports."
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Further addressing Karmarkar being in perfect shape for the Asian Games, Nandi shut down claims that Dipa had admitted to not being eligible. "They asked us to send an application and give in writing, despite her topping the trials which the federation had informed SAI about. She only wrote the truth that she had been out of competition due to suspension and injury for two years, so she couldn't fulfil the new criterion of a Top 8 finish in the last two years. How could she when she wasn't in competition?" Nandi added.
