No HC relief for city swimmer

Anushka Merchant, who had alleged malpractices in the selection of the Indian team for synchronised swimming at the Commonwealth Games (CWG), got no relief from the Bombay High Court on Friday.

Anushka Merchant, who had alleged malpractices in the selection of the Indian team for synchronised swimming at the Commonwealth Games (CWG), got no relief from the Bombay High Court on Friday.

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Apart from malpractice, Merchant alo alleged that since she was not considered for the CWG, she would not be considered for the Asian Games either.

A statement was made on behalf of Swimming Federation of India in high court on Friday saying that the city-based swimmer will be considered for Asian Games. The division bench of Justice D. K. Deshmukh and Justice N. D. Deshpande disposed of Merchant's petition on the basis of this statement.

Senior lawyer Janak Dwarkadas, who represented Anushka, told the high court on Thursday that an eight-member core group was formed to select players for Commonwealth Games to be held at New Delhi from October 3.

Dwarkadas had told the court that a Japanese trainer was appointed by the federation for training the 8-member group. However, on April 24 she returned to her native country, as her visa had expired.

Dwarkadas said the trainer had given the core group swimmers a schedule for practice, while she was away. During this period, some members noticed that three core group swimmers had gone to the US for advanced training. After the swimmers returned, the eight core group members were called for selection trial in Rajasthan last week. “A lone judge saw the performance of the three swimmers, who had been to the US, and walked away without judging the performance of the remaining swimmers,” said a senior lawyer.