India probes failure to provide collapsed Olympian with water

NEW DELHI, India – India ordered an inquiry Tuesday, August 23 after an athlete said national officials failed to give her water during the Olympic marathon leading her to collapse, heaping further embarrassment following a poor showing in Rio.

Runner O.P. Jaisha, 33, told media she collapsed after the women’s marathon because Indian officials failed to provide refreshments at designated country stations during the race.

“I could have died there… Only once in 8 kilometres did we get water (from the Rio organizers) which did not help at all,” Press Trust of India quoted her as saying.

“All the countries had their stalls at every 2 kms but our country’s stall was empty,” she said.

The allegations prompted the sports minister Tuesday to announce an investigation.

“Sports minister constitutes two-member committee to inquire into the allegations of marathon runner O.P. Jaisha,” a statement issued by Sports Minister Vijay Goel’s office said.

A string of below-par performances saw India win just two medals – a silver and a bronze – at the Rio Games, fewer than the 6 clinched during their best-ever performance in London in 2012.

Jaisha’s allegations were yet another blow for Indian officials at Rio Games who – including the sports minister Goel – have been widely panned by local media for their behaviour.

The Rio organising committee slammed the minister’s entourage as “aggressive and rude,” and warned him for repeatedly trying to get unaccredited people into the Olympic venues.

The Indian Express newspaper accused Goel of spending his time in Rio taking selfies with “exhausted Indian athletes”.

Indian athletes complain of substandard training facilities and a lack of government investment in sport in the country of 1.25 billion.

Jaisha finished 89th in the women’s marathon with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes and 19 seconds.

India sent a 118-strong athlete contingent to Rio, its largest ever for an Olympic Games, and the sports ministry had set a target of 10 medals. – Rappler.com