Driver in tow, Para body takes everyone for a ride

Bhim Singh could at best be described as someone who drives a vehicle for an official of the Haryana Paralympic Committee. However, he was nominated to accompany the team as an official for the World ParaAthletics Championships that got underway in London on Friday.

Proposed by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), his name was rejected by the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

But Bhim Singh, it is learnt, has managed to accompany the Indian squad as ‘team escort’.

The name of Girraj Singh, a former Paralympian and an official of Haryana Paralympic Committee, too was not cleared by the government for the world meet. However, he too will accompany the team.

Bhim Singh, it is learnt, does odd jobs for Girraj Singh. In the PCI list, Bhim Singh is named as team escort while Girraj is coach.

The duo has the backing of Rao Inderjit Singh, the chief of the Haryana unit.

Dalip Kumar Singh, a SAI official, said that some persons nominated by PCI were found ineligible for the job they were entrusted to do while in London.

“There were doubts so both Bhim Singh and Girraj Singh weren’t cleared by the government. If they have gone, it is the responsibility of PCI,” he added.

The SAI however cleared the name of Group Captain (retd) Shahrukh Shamshad as team manager but at ‘no cost to government’. Shamshad is also the CEO of PCI.

When asked why someone not familiar with para-athletes was nominated for the global meet, the CEO said, “There is always a need to escort an athlete as they have some kind of disability.” While SAI has cleared only 39 members, many more have gone either on their own or on PCI funds.

As many as five officials of PCI, including vice president Gurcharan Singh, have gone to London for the world meet. The PCI, it is learnt, has spent over ~10 lakh for the trip.

This comes after the PCI failed to manage funds for para-swimmer Kanchanmala Pande who participated in a meet in Berlin from July 3-9. The Indian officials, it is learnt, are campaigning for PCI chief Rao Inderjit Singh, who is eyeing a post in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The elections of IPC general assembly will be held on September 7 and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

There were doubts so both Bhim Singh and Girraj Singh weren’t cleared by the government.