PANAJI: Dr Blanche Themudo claimed today that she has won the case that she had filed against the Cycling Association of Goa (CAG) protesting against her “unfair non-selection” to the Goa state team for the forthcoming National championships under controversial circumstances. The Court has directed CAG to send the Navelim-based cyclist’s name for the Cycling Nationals, says a media release issued by Dr Blanche Themudo.
“The CAG had organised a selection trial for Goa based cyclists on November 6 and 7 to select a state team for the forthcoming National road racing cycling championships to be held in Kurukshetra, Haryana between November 25-28, 2021. Dr Blanche, a practicing dentist and avid cyclist had come first in both the 20km time trial selection race and the 80km mass start race in the women’s ‘elite category’. Ordinarily, this should have been sufficient criteria for her to get selected for the Goa state team.
“However, controversy erupted when the CAG announced the Goa team list as late as November 13, just two days before the deadline issued by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), the sport’s national governing body without any mention of Dr Blanche’s name. This prompted a disappointed Dr Blanche to move the High Court of Bombay at Goa against CAG demanding her rightful place in the Goa team for the Nationals. A High Court bench of Justice MS Jawalkar and Revati Mohite Dere in their 13-page order issued on Wednesday, November 17 directed the Cycling Association of Goa, “to forthwith during the course of the day send the name of the petitioner ( Dr Blanche Themudo) to the Cycling Federation of India for representing the state of Goa in the national cycling event to be held in Kurukshetra, Haryana from November 25-28, 2021 in the ‘Elite women’s’ category.”
“The order also directed the Cycling Federation of India, the organisers of the Nationals thus, “We make it clear that the Cycling Federation of India shall not reject the petitioner’s name on the ground of delay in forwarding the petitioners’ name, post the deadline.
“The cycling community in Goa, has welcomed the order of the High Court,” stated the press communique.
