NEW DELHI:
Paralympics Committee of India
’s (
PCI
) president-elect,
Devendra Jhajharia
– India’s most distinguished Paralympian with two gold medals at the Paralympic Games – has decided to retire after spending 22 years bringing glory to the nation with his javelin throws.
Jhajharia, a recipient of Padma Shri,
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna
and Arjuna award, has decided to put his javelin away after having competed in the men’s F46 event across three editions of the Paralympics.
His decision to retire came on a day the sports ministry decided to lift PCI’s suspension — for its failure to hold its elections on time — after nearly a month.
The ministry had called the delay “wilful and intentional’ before derecognising the PCI on February 2.
PCI was scheduled to announce its election results on March 9, but after the scrutiny of nomination papers on Mon -day, Jhajharia, who had con -tested for the position of president, and the entire new executive committee was elected unopposed on Tuesday after no other candidate filed nomination for any of the EC posts.
The ministry, while revoking the PCI’s suspension, noted in its order: “Considering that the main ground for suspension of government recognition of PCI was delay in holding the election after the expiry of the term of the EC, and that since the election process has reached the stage where the nominated candidates have been deemed to be duly elected unanimously, as well as the important fact that PCI is hosting the 2024 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup from March 6 to 15 in New Delhi, it has been decided to revoke the suspension of PCI with immediate effect.”
Jhajharia’s decision to contest PCI’s elections had raised eyebrows as he was an active athlete and part of the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) till January this year. He hadn’t announced his retirement from the sport before contest -ing the elections and had ex -pressed his desire to represent the country at the Paris
Paralympics
2024.
On Monday, TOI had sent a questionnaire to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) highlighting a potential conflict of interest on the part of Jhajharia for his decision to stand for the PCI elections without announcing his retirement.
On Tuesday, TOI received a letter dated February 22 from PCI’s outgoing secretary general Gursharan Singh where he informed about Jhajharia’s retirement.
“This is to inform you that we the Paralympic Committee of India have received the letter from Mr. Devendra, international javelin thrower, Paralympic medallist from Rajasthan stating his retirement as athlete from active participation in the future national and international com -petitions. We thank the SAI and ministry of youth affairs & sports for extending your support and encouragement to Mr. Devendra for winning medals at various national and international competitions. In this regard, we request you to relieve Mr. Devendra from TOPS,” stated the letter.
Apart from sports administration, Jhajharia has also decided to take the political plunge. He will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on BJP’s ticket.
English (US) ·