The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed the upcoming elections to the executive committee of the Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI).
The interim order was issued on a petition filed by Padmaja Garikipati, mother of Hyderabad-based India record holder gymnast Ananya against the Federation saying it had not followed National Development Sports Code norms. Padmaja claimed that her 20-year-old daughter had become a victim of ‘Federation politics’ despite winning laurels for the country in various international championships.
“The Court’s verdict is a moral victory. But I am looking forward to getting justice, with the Federation being mandated to abide by the sports code. Once that happens, everything will be streamlined and reforms in the sports bodies will be brought about,” said Padmaja.
“In last year’s National Games in October and Senior National Games in December, my daughter was discriminated against,” Padmaja alleged, adding, “she was given an unfair score despite performing well.” She filed the petition last month.
Upset that her daughter was not invited for the selection trials for the Asian Championship in March earlier this year,” she said participating in a selection trial is any athlete’s fundamental right. Padmaja also claimed that the Federation authorities had not responded to her queries in this regard. According to her, several other talented athletes have been victims of discrimination too.
Padmaja is an ophthalmologist by profession, but she was a former panel member of Kehlo India (a programme initiated by the Central Government to spot new talent in sports). She is her daughter’s unofficial coach and has travelled with her to various countries.
Pointing out that taking on the Federation may lead to undesirable consequences, we asked her how she’s prepared to deal with such a situation. “They have already hindered my daughter’s career, what more can they do?” she replied.
She also speculated that opting to be trained under world class coaches may have been one reason for the discrimination which Padmaja says her daughter is facing. She also alleged that Ananya was shamed for not having a coach.
She added that her daughter had several times expressed a desire to quit the sport, because of politics but as a mother and unofficial coach, she had motivated Ananya to stay on top of her game.
