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Skier Approved for Olympics Amidst Controversy
6 Feb
Summary
- Stanzin Lundup will attend the Winter Olympics at no government expense.
- Court had ordered Manjeet's inclusion, but participation change was impossible.
- Ministry approval is an administrative measure, not endorsement of selection.
Cross-country skier Stanzin Lundup's participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy has been sanctioned by the Sports Ministry. Crucially, this approval comes with the stipulation that it will incur no cost to the government. This decision was made after the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) informed that it was impossible to substitute Lundup with skier Manjeet, despite a Delhi High Court order highlighting the arbitrariness of Manjeet's exclusion.
The High Court had directed the IOA to facilitate Manjeet's participation. However, the IOA later explained to the court that replacing athletes was no longer feasible as the deadline for submitting entries for the Milan and Cortina Games had passed. The Ministry acknowledged this, noting that international authorities did not permit changes to the contingent, and any non-utilization of accepted quotas would mean no Indian representation in the event.
Therefore, the Ministry conveyed approval for Lundup and an official, Rauf Ahmad, to participate in the Olympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026. Lundup's event is scheduled for February 13. The Ministry emphasized that this approval is purely an administrative facilitation, not an endorsement of the IOA's selection process, which remains subject to judicial review. The participation is contingent on compliance with all relevant international regulations and IOA directives. A performance report is also required within 30 days of the team's return.
