IOA chief Kalmadi's regrets PT Usha incident

New Delhi, Oct 7: After the country's queen of track and field, PT Usha broke down in front of the media over the the ill-treatment meted out to her in the Bhopal National Athletics meet, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi has only 'regret' to offer her.

"I have spoken to the Athletics Federation of India secretary general Lalit Bhanot, who in turn talked to the organisers. I'm told the organisers went and apologised to Usha and I think we should put an end to the issue," Kalmadi said adding that no athlete should ever be treated like this in the future.

The sprint queen, who has taken the country to a great heights in track sports arena, was asked to share a room with five others when she accompanied a team to the 49th Open Athletics Meet.

When her emotional break down over how athletes are treated in the country hit the media, Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials and state government played the usual blame game.

PT Usha was later shifted to a posh hotel on Tuesday, Oct 6.

However, the need of the hour is not regret or damage control. It is time that India gave some attention to the sportspersons of the country by making some fundamental changes in the system.

OneIndia News