Manikas personal trainer on a Tokyo flight: The Tribune India

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 12

Last-minute changes to the final list of the Indian delegation to the Tokyo Olympics have raised several eyebrows.

Swordsman CA Bhavani Devi’s mother CA Ramani travels to the games as the team leader of the fencing team. Sanmay Paranjpe, who is the personal coach of table tennis star Manika Batra, is also going as a team leader.

Madhukant Pathak, who was arrested for his alleged role in embezzling funds at the 2011 National Games in Jharkhand, will continue as team leader for the athletics team. Pathak was the treasurer of the National Games Organizing Committee, and it is alleged that an amount of SEK 28 million was concealed during the event. Pathak’s involvement has been fueled by IOA Vice President Sudhanshu Mittal, who called it an embarrassing situation for the sports body.

“This man went to jail for allegations of corruption. This is a disgrace. How can you send someone like him into an official delegation, ”Mittal told The Tribune.

“I am writing to the Prime Minister about this embarrassing situation. We are all ashamed of this,” he added.

Raman’s participation was equally surprising given that both Bhavan coach Nicola Zanotti and psychologist Angelo Carnemolla are next to him in Tokyo. IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta clarified that the athlete had asked for Raman to be included and that as the IOA was not responsible for his costs, his name was clarified. “Bhavani asked for the inclusion of his mother in both the IOA and the Ministry. We have included him because IOA is not responsible for his expenses. He will be outside the Game Village, ”Mehta said.

TTFI was surprised

Meanwhile, the Indian Table Tennis Association (TTFI) has decided to welcome Paranjpe’s inclusion after the initial surprise when they were asked to provide Manika coach passport information. MP Singh, who also travels as part of the delegation as team leader for the TT team, said that while they were not opposed to the inclusion of Paranjpe, they had been looking for some basic information about the coach’s stay in Tokyo. However, sources have told this correspondent that officials were not happy about this development.

“We are not against his inclusion. In fact, we are happy that he is there. We have just asked for basic information because we were asked for information about his passport information,” Singh said.

“We’ve just asked them where he’s staying, and things about his travels, that’s all. We’re not against any athlete traveling with their personal trainers,” he added.