INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Federation shunts him out of national camp for refusal to appear in trials and travel to USA for injury managementNEW DELHI: "Success has
He has gone wayward, a bright talent is lost." A disappointed weightlifting federation of India's (IWLF) president Sahdev Yadav had this
to say about Birmingham Commonwealth Games champion, Jeremy Lalrinnunga, who was shunted out of the national camp a week ago for his failure
to appear in the selection trials for the upcoming World Championships and Asian Games.As a result of his non-appearance in trials, he
wasn't selected in the Indian team for the Worlds scheduled in Riyadh from September 4, which will act as a qualifier for the Paris Olympics
2024.For any weightlifter harbouring dreams of qualifying for Paris, participation at the Worlds was a must according to the sport's
global governing body's rules
With Jeremy not part of the squad for Worlds, his hopes of participating in his maiden Olympics next year have ended as well.Jeremy's
absence from the trials, which were conducted simultaneously at NIS Patiala on June 30, was due to a reason, the youth Olympic champion
suffered from a slipped disc during one of the training sessions in NIS about one-and-a-half month ago
He was advised complete rest by doctors to treat his back without lifting any weights
However, more than the injury, it was Jeremy's attitude which infuriated the federation
Yadav wanted him to travel to St Louis in the USA for his injury management under former American weightlifter-turned-physiotherapist, Dr
Aaron Horschig, who had long been treating Tokyo Olympic champion Mirabai Chanu for her shoulder, lower back, wrist and thigh
injuries.Jeremy Lalrinnunga
(Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Yadav even got the proposal for Jeremy - to embark on his rehabilitation trip to the USA - cleared from
the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)
But the 20-year-old weightlifter from Mizoram refused to go to St Louis and said he wanted to be treated at the Army Sports Institute (ASI)
in Pune under the medical supervision of doctors of a private hospital in Mumbai.Jeremy's refusal put him on a collision path with the
He was out of the national camp on "disciplinary grounds"
Yadav was ready to give Jeremy a second chance for the Worlds by putting his name in the squad at a later stage so that he could have
He requested the weightlifter to give the federation's suggestion to rehabilitate in St Louis a second thought
But Jeremy refused the offer through an email to Yadav with a simple 'No', which prompted the federation to get him out of the camp, putting
an end to his Asiad and Worlds' dreams.Jeremy Lalrinnunga
(Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)According to Yadav, the only way for Jeremy to make a comeback is to shine at one of the premier domestic
competitions or the senior National Championships, which is scheduled no later than Jan-Feb next year."He was removed from the camp on July
The trials happened on June 30, in which he didn't appear
Sadly, success has gone to his head
The kids got crores in prize money after winning the gold at the CWG
Then, they get Rs 50,000 every month from the government (out-of-pocket allowance from TOPS)
All this has changed their mindset
I am very disappointed in him
Had he been to the USA for his injury management programme, he would have returned stronger and fitter and could very well have participated
I would have ensured his participation because the Worlds is an Olympic qualifier and Jeremy was one of our bright hopes for Paris
The other reason for removing him from the camp was his refusal to travel to the USA
What's the point of having him in the camp when he does not listen to the federation?" Yadav told TOI.Jeremy Lalrinnunga
(Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Giving an update on Mirabai's recovery in the USA under Dr Aaron, Yadav said she has 95 percent fitness
level and will compete at the Worlds in Riyadh
However, Mirabai will not compete at the Commonwealth Championships in Greater Noida next week
From Riyadh, Mirabai, who is in St Louis for a 65-day camp, will directly travel to Asiad in China's Hangzhou in September-October.
