The Athletics Federation of India has reacted angrily to the absence of hurdler Jyothi Yarraji and triple jumper Praveen Chhitravel from their respective events at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday, setting up an inquiry into what it sees as a breakdown in communication, medical clearance and competitive readiness.
Jyothi did not start her race at all, while Chhitravel took to the runway only to foul his first attempt before withdrawing, both athletes later citing injury concerns. The federation's response was immediate and unusually blunt, with AFI spokesperson and former president Adille Sumariwalla saying the matter would not be brushed aside.
"Someone has to be answerable, and there will be an inquiry into what exactly went wrong. We will definitely look into all the details and then take whatever action might be needed," Sumariwalla told The Hindu. "The coaches had repeatedly assured us that they were doing absolutely fine in training, and as late as this morning, both the athletes and their coaches had confirmed that they would be participating. Now they are claiming there was pain during warm-up or a hamstring injury. This is unacceptable."
The federation's frustration appears to stem not only from the last-minute nature of the withdrawals, but also from the fact that both athletes had been part of a carefully managed pre-competition preparation plan. Jyothi and Praveen, along with high jumper Sarvesh Kushare, had skipped the mandatory Indian Athletics Final Series in New Delhi immediately before departure for the Asian Games. Instead, they trained at Tsukuba University for acclimatisation, a move intended to help them adjust to conditions and arrive at the Games in peak shape.
That preparation, however, now sits under scrutiny. According to the source material, the athletes had been battling injuries and niggles but had submitted medical certificates declaring them fit to play before being cleared at the last minute for competition. The contradiction between those clearances and the eventual non-participation has prompted the AFI to seek a detailed explanation from the athletes, coaches and support staff involved.
For Indian athletics, the episode is particularly awkward because it involves two athletes who were expected to be part of the country's competitive push at a major continental event. Jyothi Yarraji, one of India's leading sprint hurdling prospects, and Praveen Chhitravel, a prominent triple jumper, were both seen as athletes capable of contributing to India's medal ambitions or at least strengthening the team's overall showing. Their absence, especially after formal assurances of fitness, raises questions about whether the final call to compete was made too hastily or whether the extent of their physical issues was not properly communicated.
The AFI's insistence on accountability suggests the federation is looking beyond simple bad luck. In elite sport, last-minute injuries are common, but the federation's language indicates it believes the situation may have involved a preventable failure somewhere in the chain of decision-making. That could include medical assessment, coaching judgment, athlete self-reporting or the timing of the final clearance.
The inquiry is likely to examine when the injuries or pain first surfaced, what medical evaluations were conducted, why the athletes were cleared after earlier concerns, and whether the decision to bypass the Indian Athletics Final Series affected their readiness. It may also assess whether the acclimatisation camp at Tsukuba University achieved its intended purpose or whether it masked unresolved fitness issues.
For now, the federation has made clear that it views the episode as more than an unfortunate setback. By publicly demanding answers, AFI has signaled that it expects accountability from all parties involved and that the matter could lead to further action once the facts are established. The immediate concern for Indian athletics is reputational as much as competitive: at a major international event, the late disappearance of two athletes after repeated assurances of fitness is the kind of episode that can quickly overshadow the performances of the rest of the team.
The inquiry will now determine whether this was a case of unavoidable injury or a failure of judgment that should have been caught earlier. Either way, the federation has made it clear that it does not intend to let the matter pass without consequences.