News Leak Centre

No Fear No Favour

Indian Women Rugby Team Disallowed to Play Asian Games, Even After Qualifying.

Neha Pardeshi, the captain of Indian National Team of Rugby writes, “The Indian Women’s Rugby team has been waiting for this opportunity for the past 8 years. Team members have given up their private and government jobs to put in their time and sweat for the upcoming Asian Games.”

“There are no answers yet on why the rugby team was approved for a preparatory camp if there’s precious little intention of sending us for the Asian Games.”

Neha is urging people to sign a petition on change.org platform, a medium that can get a maximum number of people on board to bring about a social change that will allow these women to gain a place at Asian Games, 2018.

 

The 12 member team is currently at a preparatory camp in Kolkata for the Asian Games tournament where they have no intention to play. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has allowed a 523-member contingent (consisting of 276 men and 247 women) across 36 disciplines to participate in this high profile event, perhaps Rugby isn’t a part of that group.

When Mary Kom, P.V Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Dipa Karmakar, Hima Das, Geeta and Babita Phogat can be celebrated with much applause then why can’t Neha’s team be given that stage where they can bring glory for their nation? Even if they aren’t supposed to play at Asian Games, the sports federation needs to be transparent and accountable to them. Abandoning them at a preparatory camp for the tournament with no feedback will not give them the level playing field they are looking for

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