Asiad gold medallist ill-treated at sports event

Gold medallist at the Asian Games, Sudha Singh on Saturday felt deeply hurt at the treatment meted out to her at a sports function in Lucknow and said that she would never attend any function as a chief guest in Uttar Pradesh.

The 3000m steeplechaser, who was invited as a chief guest in mini marathon organised by Mahavir Prasad Girls College, reached her home district Rae Bareli on Friday night and then arrived in Lucknow on Saturday morning to attend the programme, but no one recognised her and she was meted out "bad treatment" by organisers.

"When I reached the stadium no one took notice of me, leave aside asking for water or tea. They did not even ask me to sit. When sports Minister (Ayodhya Prasad Pal) arrived everyone went to welcome him leaving me behind," Sudha said.

"I will never attend any programme in Uttar Pradesh as a chief guest. I am afraid I will be meted out the same treatment."

Sudha also added that although she was invited as the chief guest but the organisers did not even bother to call her when the marathon started.

"I was invited as the chief guest, but the marathon started without calling me there. I felt hurt and returned.

"Later someone called me and offered me money but I told the caller to distribute that money to the winners of the marathon," said the athlete, adding, she arrived in her home state instead of attending a high-profile event in Mumbai.

She said that she was honoured by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and others but "my own" people did not recognise me.