Para cyclist Lisha Das in ‘emotional distress’ over uncertainty on CWG support staff

New Delhi, July 23: India’s lone Commonwealth Games para-cycling representative, 16-year-old Lisha Das, has written to top sports officials expressing “emotional distress” over uncertainty surrounding her support staff and travel arrangements for Glasgow.
Lisha has written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Sports Ministry, saying the lack of clarity has caused immense mental pressure ahead of the Games.
The teenager has sought approval for her support team comprising personal coach Aditya Mehta, physiotherapist Dr Asha Shaikh and an experienced para-cycling technician. While Shaikh’s travel was eventually cleared following repeated requests and court intervention, there is still no confirmation regarding Mehta’s travel and accreditation. Instead, authorities have proposed K. Dattatraya as technician/coach despite his earlier rejection from Lisha’s support team.In an email to the authorities, Lisha said she should be focusing on training rather than battling administrative uncertainty.”I am writing this email with a deeply heavy heart and immense emotional distress. Since May 15, I have been continuously trying to seek clarity regarding my participation and travel arrangements for the Commonwealth Games,” she wrote. She added that Mehta and his organisation had independently supported her training, equipment and preparation, and despite repeated reminders, she had received no clarity.
PTI had first highlighted Lisha’s plight earlier this month. Mehta has now decided to independently arrange the entire support team.” Lisha is India’s youngest and first para cyclist to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and the first Indian female para cyclist to achieve this feat. Yet, instead of focusing on representing the country, she is being forced to fight administrative battles,” Mehta told PTI.Lisha said the continued uncertainty had left her “extremely demotivated” and stressed that Mehta’s role as her coach had already been recorded before the Delhi High Court.”A technician and a coach have different roles and responsibilities and cannot simply be treated as interchangeable,” she said, adding that if Mehta was not permitted to accompany her, she would make her own travel arrangements at her own expense.
She also claimed she had received little support from the authorities throughout her preparation and requested that no credit be taken for her achievements or her images be used for publicity without her consent. With the issue still unresolved, all eyes will be on whether the authorities can provide the clarity Lisha seeks, allowing the young para cyclist to focus solely on competing for India in Glasgow. (PTI)