What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
SRINAGAR: In a startling revelation, a Srinagar-based athlete, Afreen Hyder, who clinched a historic silver medal in Taekwondo at the National Games 2023 in Goa, has accused the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council of mistreatment and neglect.
The National Games, considered the premier sports event in India, only allows the top eight athletes in each category to compete, making qualification a rigorous process through a series of national championships.
Despite being the first-ever Taekwondo athlete from J&K to qualify for the National Games, Afreen Hyder alleges mistreatment and a lack of support from the Union Territory’s sports authorities.
During an exclusive interview with The New Indian, Afreen, who won the Senior National Championship in Guwahati in September 2023, highlighted her frustration with the J&K Sports Council, stating, “I was working as a mentor for Khelo India academy in Srinagar. But the authorities of J&K Sports Council were prejudiced towards me. It came to a point when I finally decided to resign from my government job as a coach and left for Delhi.
“I have received no support from the J&K Sports Council. In fact, the sports authorities from J&K who were there at the National Games in Goa had time to watch and meet every other player during the competition but had no time to even meet or encourage me. I was the only qualifier from my sport; no one came to watch or even appreciate me.”
The athlete accused the Sports Council of harassment during her tenure as a mentor for the Khelo India Academy in Srinagar. She claims to have been mentally tortured, leading to her resignation from the government job as a coach.
Narrating her ordeal, Afreen explained, “I had to attend the women’s world championship, but the J&K Sports Council did not grant me permission. I was also not allowed to participate in various other competitions, including the trials for the Asian Games.
While commenting on the J&K Sports Policy, Afreen said, “If you pick up the sports policy of any other State like Uttarakhand they get a cash prize of atleast a three to ten lac rupees for National Games but if you pick up the J&K Sports Policy, the cash award for National Games is minimal. When we apply for SRO/state awards, there is no clear categorisation.”
She added that under SRO there are 5 gazetted and 20 non-gazetted posts. “If I apply for the post with a silver medal in the national games and for example, if an athlete from a non-olympic sport has a gold medal in the national games — he/she will get more priority. But we need to understand that there is a huge difference in competition between both sports. How are we categorising? Isn’t it unfair?” she said.
“I have sacrificed literally those small joys of childhood for my training and a lot which I cannot describe in words”. She said, “I live away from my single mother because I have a goal to reach the Olympics. I work hard every day.”
The coordinating authorities of J&K Sports Council intentionally made me spend extra hours at the academy despite the fact that I used to attend the academy and train my juniors twice during the day as required. The rest of the time I was sitting idle.
Afreen, born in Noorbagh area of Srinagar, holds the distinction of being the only athlete from J&K with an All India rank of 01 and the only one to make a mark in World Rankings. Currently on her way to Korea for the Team World Championship/World Cup, Afreen’s journey is marked by sacrifices, including living away from her single mother, all in pursuit of her goal to reach the Olympics.
In response to Afreen’s allegations, Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul, strongly refuted the claims, citing behavioural issues and unauthorised absences from the Khelo India Centre. Gul contends that Afreen tendered her resignation citing personal reasons and refused to abide by service conduct rules. Whereas, the resignation copy of Hyder, a copy of which has been accessed by The New Indian, states that it was a strategic career move because she was not being allowed to participate in the championship “intentionally”.
While J&K contingent has won around 18 medals in the ongoing National Games in Goa, Afreen’s case sheds light on the challenges faced by athletes in the region and raises questions about the categorisation and recognition of olympic and non-olympic sports in the UT’s sports policy. Afreen criticises the policy for lacking clear categorisation and equitable rewards for athletes in different disciplines, calling for a fair assessment of achievements and competition levels.
