Include PU Chitra in World Athletics Championships: HC to Centre
Kerala High Court directed the central govt to ensure PU Chitra participates in the World Athletics Championships.
The Kerala High Court directed the central government to ensure the participation of PU Chitra in the World Athletics Championships in London next month.
Justice PB Suresh Kumar, in an interim order, directed the government to make all arrangements to see that Chitra participates in the event.
The case will be considered on Monday for detailed hearing.
The court had on Thursday sought an explanation from the central government on the exclusion of the Kerala athlete from the Indian squad for the championships.
Hearing Chitra's petition against the decision by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Justice Suresh Kumar had asked the Centre to inform the source of funding for international events.
Chitra, who had recently won a gold in the women's 1500m event in the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar, filed the writ petition after she was excluded from the Indian squad by the Federation.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had backed Chitra and said in a Facebook post that excluding the athlete, who was the "pride not only of Kerala, but also the country, from the team for World Athletics Championship, is condemnable".
Former national champion PT Usha had said that Chitra had not been included in the team as she did not meet the qualifying mark set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
(With inputs from PTI)
(We all love to express ourselves, but how often do we do it in our mother tongue? Here's your chance! This Independence Day, khul ke bol with BOL – Love your Bhasha. Sing, write, perform, spew poetry – whatever you like – in your mother tongue. Send us your BOL at bol@thequint.com or WhatsApp it to 9910181818.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)