CWG-2018: Parents of Sindhu and Saina deny using taxpayers' money
What's the story
The 2018 Commonwealth Games are around the corner and the parents of badminton stars PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have been left disappointed, after reports claimed that they were travelling to Gold Coast at the expenses of the Indian Government. The sports ministry had earlier raised objections over athletes' parents and spouses being included in the Indian contingent to 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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Sindhu's parents upset over false news
"I have travelled with Sindhu to many tournaments and always with my own money. This time also we had requested BAI to allow Vijaya to travel on [our] own money," PV Sindhu's father PV Ramana said.
Coming down hard
Sports ministry axes 21 extra names from the Indian contingent
According to the website of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), both PV Sindhu's mother Vijaya Pusarla and Saina Nehwal's father Harvir Singh were named in the Indian contingent. The sports ministry was not happy with this long list and decided to axe 21 non-athletes. The axed names included the parents of PV Sindhu & Saina Nehwal.
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Saina's father says not using taxpayers' money to travel
"I am going on my own. I know a professor at Gold Coast. So I will go to watch the Games as a spectator and I am not part of the contingent...I don't know where these reports are coming" Saina's father Harvir Singh told PTI.
Slams ministry
IOA President hits out at sports ministry
However, the IOA chief Narinder Batra has slammed the sports ministry for dropping these 21 people. He has even spoken to Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore for letting the parents of Saina and Sindhu travel with them to Australia for the CWG. Batra claimed that the extra officials are sent by the respective federations and slammed the ministry for making so much noise about it.