University Athlete Loses Gold Medal After Failing to Appear for Ceremony
The women's 800 metres race at the 85th All-India Inter-University Athletics Championships took a dramatic turn this week. Anju, the original winner from Lovely Professional University, has lost her title. Officials scratched her name from the results after she did not show up for the medal ceremony.
Second-Place Finisher Steps Up to Claim Victory
With Anju's disqualification, the gold medal now goes to Anjali. She represents Guru Nanak Dev University and finished second in the race held on Tuesday in Moodbidri, Mangaluru. The championship jury made this decision official following a formal complaint and a 24-hour waiting period.
Meet manager HB Radhakrishna explained the unusual situation. "After the race, a complaint went to the jury of appeal," he stated. "The jury decided to give a letter to the team manager of Lovely Professional University. They instructed him to produce the athlete for the victory ceremony."
The manager received twenty-four hours to locate Anju. He returned with a written statement confirming she was not present and not under his control. Based on this information, the jury upgraded the results and scratched out the original winner's name.
Strategic Decision Avoids Future Complications
Radhakrishna clarified why officials chose "scratching out" over formal disqualification. "Yes, it is essentially disqualification," he admitted. "But if we write it as a disqualification, her name could still appear for events like Khelo India University Games. They invite the top eight athletes, so she would naturally qualify. This would create problems again at Khelo India."
By using the term "scratched," organizers prevent Anju from automatically qualifying for future national university games based on this result. This move aims to avoid a repeat of the ceremony issue at a larger sporting event.
National Anti-Doping Agency officers were present throughout the championships. Their presence is standard at major athletic meets to conduct drug testing, though the report does not link Anju's absence to any doping concern.
Similar Incident Occurs in Half Marathon Event
This was not an isolated case at the competition. Radhakrishna revealed a parallel situation in the women's half marathon. "The same happened in the women's half marathon too," he said. "That result has also been upgraded. The third-place finisher, Ganga from Chaudhary Charan University, was scratched out. The fourth-place finisher, Khushboo Patel, now moves up to the bronze medal position."
These incidents highlight strict protocol enforcement at the national inter-university level. Athletes must comply with all ceremonial requirements after their events. Failure to do so can result in the loss of hard-earned medals and recognition.
The championships serve as a crucial qualifying platform for university athletes across India. They aim to showcase emerging talent and promote competitive sports in higher education institutions. Such administrative decisions, while tough, underscore the importance of discipline and adherence to competition rules beyond just performance on the track.
