Indian wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary dropped from Asian Games squad

Indian wushu player Divyanshi Choudhary was looking forward to making her Asian Games debut in Nagoya. However, just days before the event, the 18-year-old was dropped from the Indian squad. Divyanshi had been sharing her excitement on social media as the Games approached. She posted pictures of her kit and also shared moments from the Indian team’s send-off ceremony in New Delhi.

Her latest video, however, showed a very different side. Standing on the roof of her hostel at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, Divyanshi was seen in tears as she spoke about being left out of the team. She said she was removed from the women’s 60kg category and replaced by Roshibina Devi Naorem, whom she had beaten in the selection trials. “I’m tired of this... I have been mentally harassed so much. Since June, July, they have been after me because she (Roshibina) wanted to go. Given that I beat her, why is it a problem for her now,” Divyanshi said in the video. “I beat her, it’s my right to go there (Japan). She has been knocking at different doors...it’s abuse of power,” she added.

Divyanshi’s father, Sunil, said the family was informed about the decision only on Friday morning. He claimed that they were not given any reason for her removal. He also alleged that Divyanshi was supposed to be told about the decision only after reaching the airport, when she would have been informed that she was not travelling with the team. Sunil also questioned the decision to replace Divyanshi with Roshibina, a world medallist, two-time Asian medallist and Arjuna awardee. “Divyanshi beat Roshibina in the semifinals of the trials. If the association had to send someone, they should have sent the individual who Divyanshi beat in the final,” Sunil told Sportstar.

The Wushu Association of India has rejected the allegations. Its president Jitender Bajwa said the federation was not responsible for removing Divyanshi from the squad. Bajwa said the Sports Authority of India (SAI) took the decision after an injury was discovered. “Divyanshi joined the national camp which was organised by SAI a month back. She was carrying a knee injury and was trying to hide it by avoiding training. When SAI eventually found out about this, the replaced her name,” Bajwa told Sportstar. Divyanshi’s father admitted that she had suffered an injury but said she was undergoing treatment. “After she got an injury, we got Divyanshi checked by a doctor. She had an injury to her ACL (Anterior Cruiciate ligament). The doctor said it could be treated by rehabilitation,” Sunil said.

Bajwa said the coaches at the national camp noticed that Divyanshi was not training and recommended that she undergo a medical examination. “The coaches in the camp had recommended that Divyanshi be checked for an injury because she was not training. Eventually, the coaches informed SAI which arranged for a medical test which showed she was carrying a knee injury. They couldn’t carry an injured athlete to the Asian Games so they had to remove her name,” he said. Bajwa also explained why Roshibina was chosen despite losing to Divyanshi in the selection trials. He said Himanshi of Chandigarh, who lost in the final, had suffered a jaw fracture and was therefore unavailable as a replacement. “The losing finalist, Himanshi of Chandigarh, suffered a fracture to her jaw which is why her name was not included. Instead the coaches had already recommended the name of Roshibina Devi as the replacement player for Divyanshi,” Bajwa said. Bajwa said the federation was also disappointed that Divyanshi would miss the Asian Games. “She is a very talented athlete. She performed very well at the trials. It is bad luck that she will not be going to the Asian Games,” he said.