NEW DELHI, Apr 2: Senior Indian weightlifter Monika Devi has been included among 26 core probables for the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games after she won the gold in the National Championships in Nagpur.
Monika, who injured herself during the Nationals that ended yesterday and later hospitalised, won three gold in the 69kg category and has been named in the core probable list for the Glasgow CWG and Incheon Asian Games later this year.
Seven lifters, including five girls, have been named as core probables for the Nanjing Youth Olympics in August.
All the core probables will start training from April 7 at Shilaroo SAI Centre in Himachal Pradesh.
Indian Weightlifting Federation had initially barred Monika from participating in the Nationals as she did not turn up for an out-of-competition dope test in December last year but later allowed her to take part.
Monika went to Delhi High Court against the IWLF’s decision. And the court gave the ruling that she can take part in the Nationals in case she comes clean in the dope test.
The test result did not come before the start of the Nationals but the IWLF allowed Monika and all other lifters who did not turn up for the out-of-competition test to participate in the event.
“It was a matter of their career and so we allowed them to take part in the Nationals,” IWLF Vice-President Sahdev Yadav told here.
“The Delhi High Court said Monika be allowed to take part in the Nationals after dope test clearance. But the result from the NADA came midway into the Nationals but before that we have allowed her and all others to take part,” he said, adding that Monika’s dope result has returned negative.
Monika has been advised rest for two weeks and Sahdev said her fitness will be assessed after she joins the camp.
“She dislocated her shoulder but since she won gold and we want good lifters to represent the country, we included her for the camp. We will assess her fitness once she is there in the camp,” he said.
“Moreover, we have asked all the lifters to report for the camp on April 9. The camp will begin on April 7 but under Sports Ministry rules, an athlete can join camp up to two days late. Nobody will be allowed to join camp after April 9,” he added. (PTI)
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