Babita Phogat's father missed her Commonwealth-match due to no tickets
Parts of the hit movie 'Dangal' were fictionalized, but a particularly sentimental one almost came true. Mahavir Phogat, the iconic coach, had traveled to Gold Coast, Australia, to watch younger daughter Babita defend her Commonwealth Gold. But he had no tickets, and had to wait outside for hours. He could only enter the stadium after the Australian wrestling team came to help.
I was to get two tickets but got none: Babita
Babita, who won Gold in Glasgow-2014, was fighting Canada's Diana Weicker in women's freestyle 53kg category at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre. "My father came for the first time to watch my bout," she later said, her voice choking. "An athlete is entitled to two tickets" but she didn't get them, adding she had spoken to everyone, including the chef-de-mission, with no result.
Gave tickets to coach, he was free to distribute: Chef-de-mission
Mahavir Phogat finally managed to get inside after the Australian team offered her two tickets, Babita said. Clarifying the matter, Chef-de-mission Vikram Sisodia said five tickets had been given to their coach Rajeev Tomar, who was free to distribute them as he chose. "I don't know why she could not get a ticket. Maybe the demand was too high," he said.
Earlier, Saina Nehwal threatened to pull out over similar issues
Incidentally, this comes a few days after ace shuttler Saina Nehwal faced similar problems. Nehwal said her father had been approved as part of the Indian contingent, and she "paid the whole amount." But upon reaching, they found his name was "cut from team official category...and he can't even stay with me." He was finally allowed in after she threatened to pull out.
'If one athlete's parent gets accreditation, others should also get'
Babita, who lost 5-2 and settled for silver, expressed her disappointment: "It was the first time my father came this far to see me fight. I feel sad." She added, "If one athlete's parent gets accreditation, others should also get, why should just one athlete get that?"
