The enigma surrounding Abha Khatua’s absence from India’s Paris-bound Olympic team has left many puzzled. Despite her qualification through world rankings and her current training in Poland ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, her name is notably absent from the list.
Abha Khatua’s surprising omission
Abha Khatua, a 29-year-old shot putter, holds the national record. She earned her place in the Paris Games through the world rankings quota. Her determination to pursue her Olympic dream remained unwavering, even in the face of a recent family tragedy.
Khatua left for Spala, Poland—the base for India’s Olympic-bound athletics team—on July 11, alongside her teammates. However, the very next day, her name vanished from the list of track and field Olympic participants published by World Athletics. The reason for her absence remains undisclosed.
Attempts to reach Khatua have been unsuccessful, and there is no official explanation for her removal from the team. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) claims ignorance of any issue with her. Even World Athletics refuses to comment, citing their policy of not disclosing specific selection decisions.
Khatua’s path to the Olympics was not straightforward. Despite breaking the national record with a throw of 18.41m at the Federation Cup in April, she initially fell outside the qualification bracket. Her performance at the National Inter-State Championships improved her ranking, securing her a spot at the Paris Games. Yet, less than 10 days before the event, she was abruptly dropped without explanation.
No revert from the @afiindia yet regarding absence of Abha Khatua's name from the official list issued by Indian Olympic Association & the World Athletics.
And due to the lack of clarity, it will give rise to speculations like these… https://t.co/GAagxT4Cwp
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) July 18, 2024
This isn’t the first time Khatua has faced inexplicable exclusion. Last year, she was left out of the Asian Games despite strong performances.
As the countdown to the Olympics continues, the mystery surrounding Abha Khatua’s omission remains unsolved. Her absence raises questions aplenty, leaving us wondering about the hidden factors that led to this puzzling decision.
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