Monika in high spirits despite recent reversals; PA Sangma to take up matter with PM
IMPHAL, Aug 18: Although becoming the victim of an apparent conspiracy after she was pulled out from the Beijing Olympic Games on alleged doping charges, weightlifter L Monika of Manipur is far from crestfallen and still has not lost her sportsman’s spirit.
Seemingly having taken all the adversities in her stride, the weightlifter said, "I am planning to participate in the forthcoming sports festivals, national and international championships and have not stopped my practice," while speaking to journalists here in Imphal during a press conference held Monday.
Meanwhile, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma has thrown his weight behind weightlifter Monica Devi of Manipur.
Sangma, also the NCP leader, said he would personally take up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when the latter would be on a visit to the North East from August 25. The NCP has also demanded a CBI probe, in this regard.
Monika, who serves in the CRPF, arrived in Imphal yesterday to a rousing welcome from the people of the state even though she was not able to participate in the ongoing Beijing Olympics. A one-man committee has already been deputed by the Centre to look into the charges related to her dropping from the Games.
"I practice at my own gym at home in the morning," she said adding that she had high hopes for the Commonwealth Games, National Games and other departmental events ahead of her.
Monika has started her own gym at her native village, Nachou in Bishnupur, which she was earlier planning to inaugurate after the Beijing Olympics. She has decided to formally open the gym from tomorrow.
The gym was built with a fund of Rs. 5 lakhs, which she received as a token of appreciation from the Central security establishments after having won the silver medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
On the other hand, she also said that she was aware of the boycott of all international, national sports events to be held under the IOA, declared by the Manipur Olympic Association, MOA with support from other state level sports bodies and said that she would not violate the stand which was taken for her cause.
At the same time, she also informed that authorities at the SAI were still to give a clearance certificate for participating in the competitions after the controversial doping test case.
The inquiry into the Moinka dope test controversy led by retired election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy, which was ordered by Indian sports minister MS Gill on August 13, has commenced its inquiries from today, Monika informed.
A state-wide general strike is being called tomorrow in connection with the alleged discriminatory and manipulative acts of the IOA and SAI authorities in pulling out Monika from the Indian squad for the Beijing Olympic Games.
While replying a question, she said she, like the officials of the MOA and other sports bodies, felt that the truth of the controversy could not be found out by a single-man inquiry committee.
In this regard, the convener of the coordination committee formed to fight the Monika case informed that as they had little confidence in the single-man inquiry committee they were planning to move the Supreme Court of India for handing over of the inquiry to a dedicated investigative body.
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