Further embarrassment for India as 3 weightlifters disqualified from Youth Asian Games
The entries of weightlifters Chandrika Tarafdar, Jyoti Mal and Akshay Bhagwan were rejected because they were found above the age limit of 17.
In yet another embarrassing situation, three Indian weightlifters were disqualified from the second Youth Asian Games in Nanjing because they were found above the age limit of 17. The tournament has already seen 24 athletes being barred from participation due to age discrepancies.
The entries of three weightlifters -- Chandrika Tarafdar (Women's 48kg), Jyoti Mal (women's 53kg) and Akshay Bhagwan (Men's 62kg) -- have been rejected by the Nanjing Games organisers due to the overage issue. All three were born in 1996.
The new development comes barely a day after 18 track and field athletes were disqualified from the Games after being found above the age limit, prompting the Sports Ministry to launch an inquiry into the incident.
It is learnt that participants in athletics and weightlifting should be born on or after January 1, 1997, though in other remaining disciplines, the sportspersons who are more than 17 years of age can also take part.
A senior official of the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) told PTI that the entries of three weightlifters have been rejected but reasons are not yet known.
"We have come to know that entries of three weightlifters have been rejected by the local organising committee. We are yet to know the reason," an official said on condition of anonymity.
Indians are participating in this multi-sporting event as independent Olympic athletes because the Indian Olympic Association is serving a ban imposed by the International Olympic Committee.
The Indians are the only athletes, other than one from Myanmar, who have been been disqualified for the overage issue.