Vantage | Host and hostility: Is China resorting to unfair tactics against Indian athletes at Asian Games?

Fair play has always been at the heart of sportsmanship, where winning and losing are part of the game, but it’s the fairness and integrity that matter most. However, at the Asian Games, allegations of cheating and deliberate targeting of Indian athletes by officials have marred the spirit of sportsmanship causing concern and frustration among the Indian contingent. Even Neeraj Chopra, India’s celebrated javelin thrower and gold medalist, couldn’t escape the controversy. His first throw in the javelin final was inexplicably wiped off due to a supposed technical glitch as we reported earlier. Now, it seems the Indian team has reached a breaking point, deciding to file an official complaint.

Anju Bobby George, vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India, didn’t mince words when she suggested that these incidents were pre-planned. She even accused Chinese officials of cheating and attempting to disrupt Indian athletes’ performances. The controversy began to unfold on Sunday during the women’s 100-metre hurdles. Indian sprinter Jyothi Yarraji won silver, but not before a dramatic turn of events. At the start of the race, both Jyothi and her Chinese competitor were disqualified for a false start. However, Jyothi stood her ground, insisting she hadn’t crossed the line. Ultimately, officials reached a compromise, allowing the race to continue and Jyothi’s medal was upgraded to silver after a review confirmed her innocence. Similar incidents occurred during the javelin throw finals, where both Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena encountered officiating issues. Neeraj’s massive first throw was invalidated due to a measurement error and Kishore Jena’s attempt was cancelled after he fell within the foul line. The Indian athletes didn’t take these questionable decisions lightly. Neeraj Chopra spoke out about the unusual occurrences signalling that something was amiss. “It’s the first time something like this has happened to me in a competition… It happened with Jyothi, me, and Jena. Something is wrong. But we have got the results and shown them how hard we’ve worked and won medals,” Chopra said. This prompted Indian officials to plan an official protest with the president of the Athletics Federation vowing to investigate the matter further. The champion javelin thrower even suggested that Chinese officials were either “stupid or mischievous”. What makes the situation perplexing is the availability of advanced technology in modern sports officiating including slow-motion cameras and line technology which should ensure accuracy and neutrality. Yet, these controversies have emerged raising suspicions and concerns among Indian athletes and officials. On social media, there is a growing consensus that Chinese officials might be deliberately sabotaging Indian athletes. While such claims require a thorough investigation, it is evident that the situation has soured relations further at the Asian Games. This is not the first time that the Asian Games have been marred by political controversies. Previously, China denied entry to three Indian Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh leading to a diplomatic protest from India. These actions go beyond the zones of sportsmanship and goodwill that one would expect from a host nation, especially a neighbouring one. Despite the challenges and controversies, India is having its best-ever Asian Games in Hangzhou with a total of 86 medals. China remains at the top with more than 320 medals. While India’s position is not under threat, the allegations have cast a shadow over the event. As the investigation unfolds, the sporting world will closely watch to see how these issues are resolved and whether the officiating standards improve in the remaining days of the Asian Games. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.