Indian marathon runner OP Jaisha, revealed that she wasn’t even offered water at country-specific refreshment points during the marathon race at Rio Olympics, which might have led to her collapsing at the end of the race.
In a marathon race, officials are designated at refreshment points at every 2.5 km to provide the athlete with water and other energy refreshments. While athletes from other countries were treated with glucose and honey after every 2.5 km, Indian officials were present only after 8-km intervals, making it gruelling for Jaisha to complete the 30 km mark in the extreme heat.
Social media was quick to react and condemned the alleged insensitive treatment of the athlete.
Eminent sports commentator Harsha Bhogle also expressed his disappointment on Twitter
So our girls running the marathon had no one to give them water during the race. The Indian desk at the race was unmanned. #Pathetic
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 22, 2016
Many others were furious to know that the marathon runner was treated with such apathy.
Furious to hear of OP Jaisha, India’s top-ranked marathon runner. No officials, no water, no doctor as she fainted in the end.
— JD (@JediKhare) August 22, 2016
#OPJaisha What in the world were out Indian officials doing? Was this a pleasure trip? Jail them for almost killing our athlete!
— Dr. Vinod Nathaniel (@hardyfuturz) August 22, 2016
@VijayGoelBJP How unfortunate are we to see this kind of treatment to our sports persons? #OPJaisha #KheloIndia https://t.co/UG8Ifm1U44
— Anshul Johri (@anshuljohri) August 22, 2016
This makes me want to cry. OP Jaisha completes #marathon despite no water/help from officials https://t.co/nozbgEKt86 #IndiainRio #Olympics
— Maegan Dobson Sippy (@MigsDobson) August 22, 201
It’s so PATHETIC to know that the Indian officials provided nothing to OP Jaisha, not even water during the Women’s Marathon at Rio. (1/2)
— CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan) August 22, 2016
Alright then. What about Dutee Chand, OP Jaisha, Rani Rampal… and countless others who struggle as hard? https://t.co/UDz2XsSZkN
— Sameer Gharat (@supersam5) August 22, 2016
None of the Indian officials present to give even water to Indian Marathon athlete OP Jaisha in Rio during the run, and we look for Gold ?
— आशुतोष (@ashu3page) August 22, 2016
So our team officials at #Rio2016 were holidaying, rather than doing their job:https://t.co/hQ8lve3f5l
— rajeevdubey (@rajeevdubey) August 22, 2016
Some even appealed to the PM and other officials demanding reforms in the system.
@narendramodi No water for OP Jaisha running marathon at Rio Olympics. Guilty must be booked. Too much apathy in our country @rajnathsingh
— SANJIV GUPTA (@sanjivoscar) August 22, 2016
@PMOIndia @BJP4India OP Jaisha fainted at d finish line of d Rio marathon cz no officials wer der @ d stnds to giv her supplies..(1/2)
— shalin rajpara (@shalin19) August 22, 2016
@narendramodi : sir, please reform the sports governance. OP Jaisha fainted during marathon because officials didn’t give her water. #hope
— Kavish Dwivedi (@kavishdwivedi) August 22, 2016
(Feature image source: Twitter)
