In what was a major blow to India’s medal chances at the 2026 Asian Games, 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and triple jumper Praveen Chitravel pulled out of their respective events at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium on Saturday.
While Yarraji pulled out of the women’s 100m hurdles and was listed “DNS” or “Did not Start,” Chitravel finished with a “NM” or “No Mark” against his name in men’s triple jump.
Chitravel, who is the Indian national record holder in the discipline and had won a bronze medal during the last edition in Hangzhou, did turn up to the triple jump pit. He took his first attempt, before deciding to pull out.
In a statement, which raises more questions than provides answers, the Athletics Federation of India stated that Chitravel decided to withdraw from the event himself without reporting any injuries to the doctors or team management.
“He (Chitravel) completed his full training programme with the team and did not report any injury or medical concern to the team management before or during the competition,” the statement read.
“The decision to withdraw was taken by the athlete himself,” it further added.
As for Yarraji, the federation maintained that coaches decide to pull her out after she expressed discomfort during warm-up.
“Jyothi was fit and trained fully throughout the preparatory camp,” the statement said.
“During her warm-up for the women’s 100m hurdles today, she felt discomfort, and the coaching team decided to withdraw her from the race as a precaution. Her long-term fitness comes first.
“We wish her a speedy recovery,” it added.
What is more concerning is possibly the fact that it was known that Yarraji and Chitravel, alongside high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, were carrying injuries of different kinds. They were cleared the AFI selection committee headed by former President Adille Sumariwalla for the Games after consultation with doctors.
As per a report in The TribuneChitravel had a calf injury, while Kushare and Yarraji were carrying niggles.
At the same time, long jumper Shahnavaz Khan and men’s 110m hurdler Tejas Shirse were dropped from the squad due to fitness concerns.
In wushu, a controversy had broken out after Divyanshi Choudhary was dropped from the Indian contingent at the last minute after it was revealed that she was carrying an injury. Roshibina Devi, who replaced her, went on to win women’s 60kg sanda silver in Aichi-Nagoya.
Sumariwalla, who also acts as the AFI spokesperson, said that there’ll be an enquiry into the cases of Yarraji and Chitravel.
“Someone has to be answerable and there will be an enquiry into what exactly went wrong,” Sumariwalla said, as per Sports stars. “This is unacceptable.”
If the injuries for Yarraji and Chitravel were downplayed by the athletes or their teams, they also remain in direct violations of the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) pre-tournament directive.
In a medical directive issued to the athletes, the SAI had specially mentioned that any attempt to conceal an injury or travelling half-fit could invite action.
While Chitravel himself hasn’t spoken on the issue himself yet, Yarraji did put out a statement on her social media.
“I prepared for this moment with everything I had, but unfortunately my hamstring got injured,” she wrote.
“My team and I did everything we could, but sometimes sport teaches you that not everything is in your hands,” she added.