PT Usha is the reason Kerala lost 19 gold medals in National Games: Sports Minister

Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has blamed Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President P T Usha for Kerala's dismal performance at the 38th National Games that concluded in Uttarakhand on Friday.

Kerala finished fifth in the previous edition in Goa but slumped to 14th place in Uttarakhand. Kerala's latest tally had 23 gold medals fewer than the last edition.

While the Kerala Olympics Association (KOA) blamed the minister and the Kerala State Sports Council (KSSC) for the poor performance, the minister pointed fingers at legendary athlete Usha. His reason is that Usha torpedoed Kerala's request to include 'Kalaripayattu' at the Games, which caused serious damage to Kerala's medal tally.

"Kerala had 19 gold medals in Kalaripayattu from the last National Games in Goa. So this time, Usha and the KOA president V Sunil Kumar are responsible for the loss of those 19 gold medals," Abdurahiman told Onmanorama. "Kalaripayattu is Kerala's very own, and even though she is a Keralite, Usha did nothing," the minister said. Onmanorama has sought a response from P T Usha on the allegation raised by the Kerala Sports Minister.

Kerala amassed 87 medals from the previous Games held in 2023, of which 36 were gold, 23 silver and 27 bronze. This time, Kerala managed 13 gold, 17 silver, and 24 bronze, totalling 54.

The exclusion of Kalaripayattu from the Uttarakhand Games had caused much furore in Kerala and led to a petition being filed in the Delhi High Court. On January 15, ten days before the Games began, the Delhi High Court directed the IOA to provide a reasoned decision on the representation seeking the inclusion of Kalaripayattu as a competitive event.

The IOA took a diplomatic stand, it included Kalaripayattu as a demonstration event, instead of a competitive one. The IOA said its "policy framework for the National Games calls for inclusion of events with a 'broad national footprint, robust governing bodies and active participation across multiple states'". It said that Kalaripayattu does not meet the criteria due to its "limited spread and participation".

KOA's allegation
Meanwhile, KOA President V Sunil Kumar has said Kerala's poor showing cannot be attributed to Kalaripayattu's exclusion. "Kerala's sports minister and the sports council are responsible for this," Sunil Kumar said in a video message. "We repeatedly highlighted the many requirements, but the government and the sports council were unwilling to listen.

"For four years, the sports organisations have not been given funds. It is not the administrative funds but the expenses for taking players to national championships, the funds required to feed the players and organise camps.

"With the funds allocated in the budget, it is not impossible to help Kerala finish in 2nd or 3rd position, but only if those funds are utilised properly. No organisation has got a single rupee in the last four years. The sports council and the minister disregard everything we say," Sunil Kumar said.

Minister's counter
"It is the duty of the respective sports federations to prepare athletes, not the sports council. However, due to internal conflicts, they are not doing a good job. That is another reason for the poor performance," minister Abdurahiman told Onmanorama.

"Take the case of hockey, the sport of the KOA president. His association gets a grant regularly, but a Kerala team has not qualified for the last 9, 10 or 11 nationals. What are they doing for the sport," the minister said. The KOA President is also the president of Kerala Hockey.

"Also, we sent out junior athletes for the Games because the seniors did not compete. The government gave them jobs, but they did not compete in the National Games," the minister said.