I was fencing before SATS banned it, says Nilay Rao

Hyderabad: National-level fencer C. Nilay Rao’s certificates were not considered by the Sports Authority of Telanagana State (SATS), as the game was banned by SATS in 2017,  but this has no role in the authentication process of Nilay’s sports merit certificates as the boy began his game even before it was banned.

But C. Nilay Rao, 18-year-old from Goshamahal, wasn’t considered for a seat under the sports quota and he was removed from the priority list despite participating at national level fencing under a senior category. The city boy qualified in the Neet exam for the year 2017-18 and applied for MBBS counselling under the sports quota. The Kaloji Health University, Warangal, had forwarded his certificates to the managing director ‘SATS’ for verification, but his documents were not considered. “The MD SATS considered my participation/merit certificates of school games federation of TS, but eight national certificates were not considered, as I played once for the Fencing Association of Telangana. The reason being: due to serious discrepancies between the secretary, Fencing Association of TS, and MD, SATS, fencers who played for the association have not been considered, despite participating at national and international level,” Nilay Rao told this newspaper.

As per rules, first preference should be given to individual medallists and participants at the international level and senior national level. However, it is alleged that the managing director of SAT has considered only the team event medallists and inter-zonal medallists in team events, which is against the rules.

In an official complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Nilay Rao said, “Fencing was banned by the Government of TS on the recommendation made by the MD- SAT from February 2017. However, I have been playing from 2014 to January 2017, before the ban. Despite submitting merit certificates I wasn't considered.”

Another fencer, T. Bhagyashri, an international medallist and a senior level national player,   did not get a seat under the sports quota because she too once played for the State Association of Fencing. The family of Bhagyashri approached the Hyderabad High Court which issued an order in her favour. However, by then admissions had closed.