India’s para cyclist Lisha Das rejects federation’s support, opts for own kit and flag | Commonwealth Games News

NEW DELHI: Minor para cyclist Lisha Das escalated her dispute with the country’s sports authorities ahead of her departure for the Commonwealth Games, informing the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) that she will not wear the official India kit and will carry her own Tricolour. She also said she would stay outside the team hotel, travel on independently booked tickets and decline the federation’s travel and accommodation arrangements in Glasgow, citing “continued harassment, mental distress and lack of support”.In another strongly worded email — a copy of which is with TOI — the athlete demanded immediate accreditation and field-of-play access for her coach, Aditya Mehta, saying the Delhi high court had already recognised him as her coach. She reiterated that Mehta, technician K Dattatraya and physiotherapist Dr Asha Shaikh must be granted the necessary event access as her essential support personnel.Lisha also objected to the use of her photographs on official platforms of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), alleging that they created a misleading impression that she had been trained, sponsored or supported by the authorities. As a minor, she said neither she nor her guardian had consented to the use of the photographs and warned of legal action if thematerial was not removed.Her latest communication came after the CFI informed her that it had booked flight tickets for Lisha, Dr Shaikh and Dattatraya and was arranging accreditation, accommodation and airport transfers for the Indian para-cycling contingent in Glasgow. Mehta, however, was not included as her coach.Rejecting the arrangements, Lisha wrote, “I will not be wearing the official kit. I will be wearing my own kit and carrying my own Indian flag.”She said she had independently borne the expenses for her training, equipment and Games participation. According to her coaching team, the expenditure amounted to around Rs 12 lakh, including non-refundable flight tickets, private accommodation in Glasgow and customs duty paid on her high-end customised cycle.Lisha added that she saw no reason to represent a support system “from whom I have not received meaningful support”. She further claimed that the federation had booked tickets “without informing me in advance” and that her coach and support team had already finalised their travel and accommodation because of the “prolonged lack of clarity and timely communication”.Stressing that she would continue to represent India with pride, Lisha maintained that her independent arrangements should not dilute her demand for accreditation for Mehta and her support staff.