IMPHAL, FEB 22: Meanwhile, the National Games Organising Committee has thrown out the entire wrestling team of Rajasthan from the Games Village. This occurred after the recognised Rajasthan Olympic Association chief Janardhan Singh Gehlot complained that the team had not been cleared by his Association.In fact, they had not been cleared by Gehlot as the Rajasthan wrestling Association under AK Dutta is loyal to the rival group led by Nathu Singh Gujjar. The Indian Olympic Association has, however, recognised the Gehlot group.Trouble started when the day Rajasthan wrestling team arrived here. They were asked to join the Gehlot banner if they wanted to compete which they refused to do. Dutta informed, on the night of February 18 when the six Rajasthan men wrestlers were asleep, other competitors from their state as well as other states, attacked them with rods and knives. All the six were injured and are in no position to compete. The five women in their side were spared as they were with AK Dutta.Next day, Dutta alleges, the police refused to register First Information Report (FIR) even as the male wrestlers had to receive stitches for their injuries. The women were later allowed to compete in the events which started from the 19th of February. Yesterday, the police came to their cottages with a letter from the organisers requesting them to leave the village. The wrestlers are currently staying outside the village.``We would have won atleast five medals,'' Dutta lamented. ``They beat us very badly,'' Man Singh, Rajasthan's wrestler in 58kg category said. His ankle was slashed with a knife, he says. The others injured are Surjamal in 69kg, Vijendra Singh in 85Kg, Dharampal in 97kg category and Chander Singh. In all 14 have been expelled from the village.Meanwhile, there were problems in taekwondo too. Here the story is of two teams from the same state. Once again politics within the federation and among officials are forcing the players to face the consequences. A battle between Harish Kumar and Jimmy Jagtiani over the control of the Taekwondo Federation of India has left a number of players in the cold.Punjab is one of the states which has suffered. The Punjab Olympic Association had sent letters to the Punjab Taekwondo Association to select their team for the National Games. However, just before leaving for Imphal, a new body in Punjab was formed and another team was brought for the National Games.All the original members of the team also came to Imphal hoping that they would be allowed to participate. They paid for their own journey. However, their names were rejected and they were asked to go back. Some of these boys, including Jaspreet Singh and Sarfaraz Ali, have skipped their examinations to compete in the Games.With politics and violence steadily increasing, the National Games this time is getting attention for entirely different reasons. The image of sports has been tarnished, perhaps beyond repair. Even though the Manipur government has done everything to ensure the success of the Games, they had overlooked the fact that infighting among officials and indiscipline among players might well leave their adventure a disaster. That is exactly what is happening now and the organisers are finding it difficult to handle them.``Why should we suffer due to politics among officials,'' the taekwondo players wanted to know. ``Our only crime was that we were tipped to win medals,'' the wrestlers said.At this juncture most of them are welcoming the formation of the Sporstmen's Union of India. ``It is really a good step and we will benefit by voicing our grievance under one banner,'' ace swimmer Nisha Millet said. She is yet to sign up, but said that she might do so soon. ``I will first discuss the issue with my coach."
