Paralympic Committee of India requests for considering Sakina Khatun for CWG

New Delhi [India], Jan 17 (ANI): Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has written a letter to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), asking it to request the Commonwealth Games (CWG) organising committee to accept the entries of para powerlifters Sakina Khatun and Jaideep for the games.

Shamshad, CEO of PCI, confirmed the news to ANI.

The request of the two names is made on the basis of their performances in the recent World (para powerlifting) Championship held in Mexico City from December 2 to 8, 2017.

Earlier, Shamshad had said that the PCI would take up this issue in writing before the IOA after Sakina, the only Indian para-athlete to clinch a medal at the Commonwealth Games, was ignored during the selection of the contingent for the prestigious games to be held in Australia from April 4 to 15.

Sakina is also at the number two spot in the CWG and Asian rankings.

Her axing came despite the athlete meeting the eligibility criteria as marked by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

Shamshad had earlier told ANI that the CWG organising committee had inadvertently missed out Sakina's name in collaboration with the International Paralympics Committee (IPC).

The five para-athletes who are selected in India's CWG squad include powerlifters Sachin Chaudhary in the heavyweight (above 61kg category), Farman Basha and Ashok in the lightweight category (up to 72kg) and two women table tennis players Maitri Sarkar and Vaishnavi Vinayak. (ANI)