Asian Games 2023: Yarraji’s 100m hurdles bronze upgraded to silver after protest

Indiarsquos Jyothi Yarraji 24 was eventually awarded the silver medal in the 100m womenrsquos hurdles amidst high drama at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre here onSundayThe race witnessed a false start by Chinarsquos Wu Yanni but shockingly both Wu and Yarraji were shown the disqualification card by the track judge even as the Indian clearly started after the Chinese athlete had erredYarraji vehemently protested and things came to a standstill for a good 10 minutes before it was decided that both athletes would run under protest After the restart Wu finished first with compatriot Yuwei Lin second and Yarraji third However following an investigation into the protest lodged by the Athletics Federation of India AFI Wu was disqualified and Lin 1274 seconds and Yarraji 1291s saw their medals upgraded to gold and silver respectivelyAlso ReadItrsquos Sunday wonday in athleticsAFIrsquos senior vicepresident and former long jumper Anju Bobby George was furious immediately after the race ldquoThe Chinese authorities have clearly done this allowed Wu to run despite being disqualified to support their athlete A disqualified athlete cannot be allowed to run We wonrsquot let this happen I immediately spoke to our team coach and we lodged a protest after paying the fee of USD 100 Itrsquos unfair on Jyothi because the delay in the restart and the drama would have taken a toll on her mentally and thatrsquos why she finished thirdrdquo Anju said soon after the race and moments before the outcome of the protest was announcedAFI chief Adille Sumariwalla who is also a vice president of World Athletics emphasised that this issue will not end here ldquoThe rule is that you cannot break the gun and everything is clearly visible on the screen But if one girl goes out before the gun naturally others will follow Jyothi went second so they got after her and tried to get her out So I told them to let Jyothi run under protest But to make the Chinese girl run under protest is wrong because she has clearly broken the gun I canrsquot say whether this was done intentionally by anyone but I assure you that this will be taken up with the highest authority to ensure that this never happens againrdquo said SumariwallaYarraji who made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok in July was relieved after the confirmation of her silver show ldquoMy full concentration was on giving my 100 per cent here to do better than my personal best 1278s since this is my last race of the season But after what happened I was mentally down I did not do well in my heats either but finally Irsquom glad that the result has come in my favourrdquo she said