On Monday, ace Indian shuttler Saina Nehwal took to Twitter to express her displeasure over her father, Harvir Singh Nehwal, not being allowed to stay with her at the Commonwealth Games, which are being held at Gold Coast, Australia.
Saina wrote in a series of tweets that her father had been confirmed as a team official before they left for the Commonwealth Games. She had apparently also paid for him to stay with her.
However, once at the Commonwealth village, she realised that neither was his name on the list of officials, nor could he stay with her, meet her or come see her matches.
“I wanted his support as I regularly take him for my competitions ...but i didn’t understand why nobody informed me all this earlier .. that he can’t enter anywhere (sic),” she tweeted.
Surprise to see that when we started from India for commonwealth games 2018 my father was confirmed as the team official and I paid the whole amount for that but when we came to the games village ... his name was cut from team official category .. and he can’t even stay with me .
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 2, 2018
He can’t c my matches and he can’t enter the village nor he can meet me in anyway .. what kind of support is this ..@thecgf
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 2, 2018
I wanted his support as I regularly take him for my competitions ...but i didn’t understand why nobody informed me all this earlier .. that he can’t enter anywhere #CommonwealthGames2018
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 2, 2018
In the days that have passed since, Harvir has received accreditation by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to stay with Saina, as she desired.
Thank u so much @ioaindia for the support and help sorting out my father’s accreditation card in such short notice ..Hopefully it will b great for the matches ahead ..and I m sorry for all the trouble #CommonwealthGames2018 pic.twitter.com/fWCvrLk4YV
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) April 3, 2018
However, it is what led to IOA’s action which has put the 28-year-old shuttler at the centre of a controversy.
Saina reportedly wrote to the IOA after she tweeted about the incident. Her message read, “I msgd u and tried to call u but u didn’t pick up the call but there is so much issue going on with my father .. if his accreditation is not cleared as an official I am not going to play the matches.”
The IOA had reportedly explained why her father was not granted accommodation at the Commonwealth Village. They said that the payment for accreditation of Extra Official did not “include bed in the Games Village.”
Dear @NSaina , Mr. Harvir Singh is an accredited Extra Official! As stated in the CDM Manual of Gold Coast 2018 CWG and repeatedly conveyed to BAI, the payment for accreditation of Extra Official does not include bed in the Games Village. pic.twitter.com/cuafVeKxwr
— IOA - Team India (@ioaindia) April 3, 2018
Saina’s ‘threat’ to pull out of the Commonwealth Games unless her father was granted a place in the village has not gone down well with many.
Arrogance ? Kiddish? Or just shameful? #iamnotgoingtoplay pic.twitter.com/AxJREmzOCv
— Ankit Singh (@77_ankit) April 4, 2018
Disagree. Champ or not. Star or not. Right or not. Papa or not. No one,repeat,no one has the right to threaten not playing for the country unless xyz conditions are met. It might seem so in a medal-starved country like ours but it isn't. U dont want to play, leave. Don't threaten
— #indianfirst (@uthraGC) April 4, 2018
If every participant's parents can enjoy the same status then it is fine. Otherwise, a wrong precedent has just been set.
— Raki Rakesh (@Raki2u) April 3, 2018
Commonwealth Games is not exactly a vacation or https://t.co/ZrUe1C28Z4 excursion where you book your lodging by paying money..
— Turjo (@Turjo36622323) April 2, 2018
So if each of these 220 something athletes decides to bring their blood relatives?? Should all be given extra official status ??
— Aka$h meNon (@AkashHustle) April 4, 2018
How family can stay with players , is it a family Match or official tournament... sad you r good player but it’s ur duty to take care of your family n should avoid to put family above the country
— Manoj Kumar (@manoj100001) April 3, 2018
Childish behaviour by Saina
— Amanpreet Singh (@amanthejourno) April 3, 2018
Lost all respect for you @NSaina .
— Ankit Singh (@77_ankit) April 3, 2018
Any of your international opponents ever done so? : Dont do what indian politician ‘s do. Next you will ask @ioaindia to let your father play. @republic @TimesNow : Dangerous trend setting up.
It seems 'village' accommodation is always difficult unless one is part of team as athlete, coach, manager, support staff. Outside accommodation seems to have been arranged. Now it looks @ioaindia has pulled off room in 'village' itself.
— K.P. Mohan (@kaypeem) April 3, 2018
Others, meanwhile, supported Saina.
Dear @ioaindia, Leave your protocols, do arrange something from our star player's father. This will boost her confidence up. If for politicians you can break your protocol, why not for player's relatives??
— Swastik Sahu (@SwastikTweets) April 3, 2018
PV Sindhu's mother is allowed but Not Saina Nehwal's Father to travel with the Indian contingent for 2018 CWG - Sidhu had dedicated her Korean Open victory for Emperor Modi on his Birthday, but Saina has not been that 'smart'. https://t.co/I66d2lwPVW
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) April 3, 2018
Sorry friend, she was assured first, paid for the acredition, then ditched on reaching at foreign location. If at all there is change they should hv made it clear before leaving.
— Hiresh (@hireshvs) April 3, 2018
You should be aware that she is not the only one who takes her parents there. The other players too take there family members with them. And one more thing she has paid for her father's trip, therefore she has the right to question them.
— Nikhil Mandhan (@nikhil9650) April 4, 2018
Have a diff take on the @NSaina issue. Do Jamaica say no to Bolt's entourage at Olympics or Serbia to Djokovic'https://t.co/tIianc6eN9 Nehwal was cleared. He paid as he was asked to.Clearly someone on @ioaindia goofed up. Accred cards were made much before Ministry cleared list
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) April 4, 2018
you dont get it.Any Village is a lonely place.Father mother sister irrelevant. The athlete at a Games is supreme. If he or she wants a certain comfort they should get it. If we cant give them now then when.
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) April 4, 2018
Contradiction.Saina makes it clear she paid for everything. And if we cant deliver one comfort to our champion then we must question why we are running sport in this country. IOA goofed up.Go to original mistake.Someone goofed up prompting a reaction
— Digvijay Singh Deo (@DiggySinghDeo) April 4, 2018
When asked about the controversy recently, Saina stood her ground. Speaking to Indian Express, Saina said that this was about respect for her.
“When you tell me something, and when I am paying you the whole thing… but this is not about money, it is about respect. Imagine if your parent is there with you and made to look for a place to stay at midnight,” she said.
Her threat to pull out of the Commonwealth Games, she added, was an “emotional response” at the disrespect shown to her.
“If you want to say Saina is bad, then I am bad, for my parents,” Saina said. Why make him struggle, she questioned. "Make me struggle," she asserted.
Incidentally, Saina's father Harvir and PV Sindhu's mother Vijaya are among the 15 people who are cleared to be part of the Indian contingent, but their travel, stay and other expenses are not funded by the Indian government.