PT Usha condemns separate events for boys, girls in school games
PT Usha has written a letter to prime minister Narendra Modi protesting against the decision of School Games Federation of India holding athletics events separately for boys and girls.
Track and field legend PT Usha has written to President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders protesting against the decision of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) to holding athletics events separately for boys and girls.
In her letter, she has pointed out that SGFI, which is tasked with organising games among Indian schools, will be holding two separate events -- in December second week for girls in Pune and in January second week for boys -- instead of holding one event for both sexes.
Speaking to India Today Television, Usha condemned this and said separate events for boys and girls are now things of the past. Usha said there are no separate Olympics for men and women and the organisation of events separately for boys and girls constitutes a violation of the Olympic Charter. That is why she has written to the Union Sports Minister, the Maharashtra Chief Minister and the Education Minister of Maharashtra, she said.
The former national athletic coach urged the PM to look into the matter personally and instruct the SGFI to reconsider their decision and conduct the championship together for boys and girls.
She said she got to know of such events since students from her academy were also participating in these championships.