Indian Gymnasts

Guangzhou, Nov 14: Indian Gymnasts were left all alone by their Russian coach, at the Asian Games, claiming that his team officials were racists. Vladimir Chertkov, 51, whose contract is up to this Asian Games, deserted team India on Sunday and returned to India, as he was not given the permission, to attend the opening ceremony of Asian Games. Indian chef- de -mission Abhay Singh Chautala confirmed that Vladimir was unhappy with the uniform, and was arguing about that, as he wanted to wear only jeans and T-shirts. “Our team officials said him to stick to the dress code that we made, but he didn’t obeyed and refused to wear , due to this refusal, team officials restricted him to attend the ceremony, that’s what I heard the last news” said Chautala.

When Vladimir returned to India, he slammed the team officials of being racists, and saying that they humiliated and discriminated against him, by which he was disappointed and upset. “It was really an insult direct on my face” Chertkov was quoted as saying by the Press Trust Of India news agency. “It was very humiliating as well as discriminating, and the way they told to me not to attend the ceremony, I can assure that, it was racism” said Chertkov.

Recalling the incident Vladimir said that when I was given a dress to wear, it was not fitting it, so when I asked them, that if I can wear a dress equally similar to it, maybe with same colour , as it may match the Olympic style and look casual and descent. Later the team officials said that, as the uniform is not ‘fit’ for me, I should not participate in the opening ceremony which was really strange and weird. The team official said me I cannot go with them so I can leave”.

Tags: Abhay Singh Chautala, Asian Games, Asian Games 2010, Gymnastics, Indian Gymnasts, Indian Sports, Sports, Sports India, Vladimir Chertkov