London Olympics-2012: India Crying Cheating!
London Olympics-2012 is also going to be remembered for an entire set of wrong reasons! The fixing charges in Badminton Women’s Doubles matches created waves of consternation throughout the globe. The charges were proved to be true as all eight badminton players from China, South Korea and Indonesia involved in fixing tactics were disqualified. At the same time a whole lot of cheating charges had been coming slowly out in the open.
The cases of cheating somehow seemed to affect mostly Indian athletes, particularly the boxers. While a vast nation stuffed with over a billion human beings still search hungrily for the first Gold medal some Olympic officials were hell bent on denying them even the deserved honors.
The first anomaly was noticed in the inauguration ceremony itself when a mysterious lady in red was seen accompanying the Indian contingent for no connected reasons. She was not a part of the contingent and still was devouring prime focus. Later it was sorry-sorry and no-no from her side and the Olympic organizers apologized too. This incident possibly gave an inkling of the things to come for the Indian contingent.
The Indian Hockey coach cried cheating when a penalty stroke that he thought rightfully due was not given and India went on to lose their very first and closely fought game to Netherlands 2-3. And then India lost next two games eliminating itself from medal contention. Though that alleged cheating could not be a justification for the team’s lackluster performances it did indeed affect the morale.
The Indian Badminton women’s doubles pair, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa appealed against a group match of Japan and Taipei, but it was summarily rejected. They alleged of fixing in that game. While the specter of fixing was officially confirmed valid the Indian pair’s complaint was found invalid. As a result the pair crashed out of the Olympics. And then the boxers.
Indian boxer Sumit Sangwan in 81kg category appealed against the result of a match with a Brazilian rival that Sumit thought he had won. Appeal rejected. Indian boxer in 69kg category, Vikas Krishnan, had been declared winner in a bout against an American. The American’s team management made an appeal with AIBA citing foul tactics adopted by the Indian. Appeal upheld and the boxer was denied of a quarterfinal berth and possible medal hopes. The Indian team filed a protest appeal against the decision. Appeal rejected. This issue of great injustice has still been raging in India disheartening millions of fans. Then on August 4, 2012, Indian boxer Manoj Kumar in 64kg category cried cheating in a thrilling per-quarterfinal bout against a home favorite from Great Britain. Manoj alleged that points were not given to him on most of his attacking moves and that the bout seemed like to be of a district competition, not Olympics. Maybe fearing one more rejection no appeal was made so far.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati