The race witnessed a false start by China’s Wu Yanni, but shockingly, both Wu and Yarraji were shown the disqualification card by the track judge even as the Indian clearly started after the Chinese athlete had erred
Jyothi Yarraji protests in front of the track official after being disqualified; Jyothi Yarraji congratulates China’s Wu Yanni after their race; Silver-medallist Jyothi Yarraji celebrates with the Indian flag
India’s Jyothi Yarraji, 24, was eventually awarded the silver medal in the 100m women’s hurdles amidst high drama at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre here on
Sunday.
The race witnessed a false start by China’s Wu Yanni, but shockingly, both Wu and Yarraji were shown the disqualification card by the track judge even as the Indian clearly started after the Chinese athlete had erred.
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Yarraji vehemently protested and things came to a standstill for a good 10 minutes before it was decided that both athletes would run under protest. After the restart, Wu finished first, with compatriot Yuwei Lin second and Yarraji third. However, following an investigation into the protest lodged by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Wu was disqualified and Lin (12.74 seconds) and Yarraji (12.91s) saw their medals upgraded to gold and silver, respectively.
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AFI’s senior vice-president and former long jumper Anju Bobby George was furious immediately after the race. “The Chinese authorities have clearly done this [allowed Wu to run despite being disqualified] to support their athlete. A disqualified athlete cannot be allowed to run. We won’t let this happen. I immediately spoke to our team coach and we lodged a protest after paying the fee of USD 100. It’s unfair on Jyothi because the delay in the restart and the drama would have taken a toll on her mentally and that’s why she finished third,” Anju said soon after the race and moments before the outcome of the protest was announced.
AFI chief Adille Sumariwalla, who is also a vice president of World Athletics, emphasised that this issue will not end here. “The rule is that you cannot break the gun and everything is clearly visible on the screen. But if one girl goes out before the gun, naturally, others will follow. Jyothi went second so they got after her and tried to get her out. So, I told them to let Jyothi run under protest. But to make the Chinese girl run under protest is wrong because she has clearly broken the gun. I can’t say whether this was done intentionally by anyone, but I assure you that this will be taken up with the highest authority to ensure that this never happens again,” said Sumariwalla.
Yarraji, who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok in July, was relieved after the confirmation of her silver show. “My full concentration was on giving my 100 per cent here to do better than my personal best [12.78s] since this is my last race of the season. But after what happened, I was mentally down. I did not do well in my heats either, but finally, I’m glad that the result has come in my favour,” she said.
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