India's star weightlifter Achinta Sheuli has faced a big setback in his Paris Olympics training. The Commonwealth Games gold medalist was expelled from the preparatory camp at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala. The president of Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF) confirmed the news to Sports Tak. Notably, this serious disciplinary breach occurred on Thursday night (March 14) when the 22-year-old entered the women's hostel unauthorised at night. Security personnel caught Sheuli entering the women's hosted and hence reportedly documented the incident on video.
Meanwhile, IWLF president Sahdev Yadav while speaking to Sports Tak highlighted the seriousness of the issue. An investigation is underway, but Sheuli is no longer part of the Patiala camp. This expulsion comes as athletes across various disciplines train at NIS in preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
The National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala maintains separate housing for male and female athletes. This is important as female boxers, athletes, and wrestlers are currently training there.
This incident with Achinta Sheuli isn't an isolated one for the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF). Previously, Commonwealth Games and Youth Olympics champion Jeremy Lalrinnunga faced expulsion for disciplinary issues.
The repercussions for Sheuli are significant. His expulsion from the camp means he won't be participating in the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, this month. This competition is crucial for qualifying for the Paris Olympics, effectively ending Sheuli's chances of competing. While he currently holds the 27th position in the qualification rankings, there was still a possibility of making the cut through the continental quota system. With this latest development, that opportunity has vanished.
India's weightlifting hopes for the Paris Olympics rest on the shoulders of just two athletes following Achinta Sheuli's expulsion. Only Mirabai Chanu, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist in the women's 49kg category, and Bindyarani Devi, who secured a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, remain in contention.
Both lifters are set to travel to Thailand later this month to compete in the IWF World Cup. This tournament will be particularly significant for Chanu, marking her return to competition after battling a hip tendinitis injury since August last year.
Qualifying for the Paris Games requires strict participation criteria set by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) for 2024. Lifters must have competed in both the 2023 World Championships and the upcoming World Cup in Thailand. The qualification window also considers participation in three additional events from a specified list including past World Championships, Continental Championships, and Grand Prix events.
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