Deaflympics medal winners protest against govt's apathy

New Delhi: Indian athletes, fresh from winning five medals at the 2017 Deaflympics, refused to leave the Indira Gandhi International airport here upon their arrival in the wee hours on Tuesday apparently hurt that Sports Authority of India officials or anyone from the sports ministry failed to receive them on their arrival.

They are also considering returning their medals to protest against government apathy. India participated in eight disciplines at the competition held in Samsun, Turkey, from July 18 to 30, winning medals in three — recording their best showing in the event to finish 26th in the standings.

Wrestler Virender Singh won the gold in 74kg freestyle event. Sumit Dahiya (97kg freestyle) and Ajay Kumar (65kg freestyle) bagged bronze medals, while golfer Diksha Dagar settled for a silver in the women’s individual event.

Prithvi Sekhar and Jafreen Shaik claimed a bronze in men’s doubles tennis.
India’s contingent, comprising 46 athletes and support staff, tried to speak to sports minister Vijay Goel but there efforts went unanswered, according to reports.

“We won gold and bronze in wrestling, bronze in lawn tennis and silver in golf,” Ketan Shah, the team’s interpreter was quoted as saying by a news agency.

“The day we won the medals, we told the government that we have made the nation proud. These medal winners made the nation proud, but no one, not even the sports minister, is here to welcome us.

“All we want is either the sports minister or any government official comes here and appreciates our players. We had informed them that we will be coming on August 1, but we haven’t got any reply. We have been trying to contact officials, but we are just being told that they are unavailable.”