The Delhi High Court has agreed to the suggestion of the Yachting Association of India (YAI), which was agreeable to all parties, to conduct a selection regatta in Jakarta, to select the 49er Fx women’s sailing team for the Asian Games. The selection regatta is scheduled to be held from August 4 to 8, with 5-7 being the race days.
Varsha Gautham, with Shweta Shervegar as the crew, had challenged the original selection of the team of Ekta Yadav and Shaila Charles, stating that the YAI had not followed its own selection norms.
Varsha and Shweta had won the silver medal as against the bronze by Ekta and Shaila in the Asian Championship, which was supposed to be part of the selection process.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru had ordered that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) take a decision on the subject as it was the final authority on fielding the teams for the Asian Games.
On receipt of the court order and the minutes of the meeting of the emergency selection committee held on June 30 by the YAI, the IOA nominated Varsha and Shweta as the team for the Asian Games on the basis of the silver medal.
This was challenged by Ekta and Shaila, following which the YAI had a meeting with all parties. The court noted the ‘veiled threats’ to Varsha in the meeting that lasted for 25 minutes and was recorded. It court took objection to the manner the meeting was held, but refrained from taking action following the unqualified apology tendered by the YAI secretary-general.
In the recorded transcript that was part of the court order, Varsha was quoted as saying, ‘’I don’t want to say for the sake of not burning bridges that I want to give up on my dream to go to the Asian Games.”
Once the decision of the fresh selection regatta was agreed, the IOA pleaded that it may not be able to change names at a later date, but would make the best efforts to do so.
The YAI also promised the court that there would not be any action against Varsha, as indicated by the selection committee, and that she would not be victimised.
The YAI has agreed to take care of all the cost of the selection regatta in Jakarta, including the air fare, boarding and lodging of the participants. The boats are already there in Jakarta. It has also agreed, as per the court direction, to invite any other party that may be interested in the race, to make it competitive.
If anything, the whole exercise is bound to keep both the teams on their toes, and possibly be sharp for the competition in the Asian Games.
Varsha had won a medal in the last Asian Games, when she was 16 years of age, and has been quite charged up to capitalise on another chance, following the life-line given to her by the judiciary.