Para table tennis players move Delhi High Court for inclusion in Asian games
Para-athletes in India often face discrimination and have to fight for their rights. Latest to join the wagon is a bunch of ten table tennis players! Ten para-athletes have approached the Delhi High Court to seek direction from the centre and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to include them in the upcoming Asian Para Games scheduled to be held in October.
According to petitioners, the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) had already conducted a selection test where all the ten petitioners participated. 19 para-athletes were selected. All of the ten petitioners were also selected for it. But they soon realised that the selection team has arbitrarily and whimsically dropped them off the final list!
The petition also states that all these players hold international cards where they are allowed to play across the world. Denying them of that is a violation of their rights. Since these cards cost a fortune that goes up to lakhs, the players must be given a chance to prove their skills at an international platform. Many of them even took loans to obtain these cards!
The players asserted that in spite of repeated requests, the authorities turned a blind eye towards them. The Delhi High Court is likely to hear the petition on 24 August.
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