Para-cyclist Lisha Das says support-staff dispute has left her in 'immense emotional distress'
CWG-bound para-cyclist Lisha Das has told sports authorities that uncertainty over support staff arrangements has caused her "immense emotional distress." She has addressed the issue in an email sent to multiple national sports bodies and the Sports Ministry.
Lisha Das, who is preparing to take part at the Commonwealth Games, raised concerns about the clarity and handling of support personnel assigned to her. The matter was formally communicated by Lisha via an email to officials at the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the Sports Ministry. The dispute over support staff and its timing has coincided with the start of the Commonwealth Games.
In her correspondence, Lisha directly questioned sports authorities about the ongoing uncertainty surrounding who will serve in her support team. She described the personal impact of the situation, writing that it has caused her "immense emotional distress." The email sets out her concerns to the governing bodies responsible for elite sport and para-cycling.
The recipients of Lisha’s message — the IOA, CFI, PCI and the Sports Ministry — are the principal organizations involved in India’s Commonwealth Games delegation and para-sport oversight. By including all four, Lisha ensured that both umbrella and sport-specific authorities were informed of her situation. Her communication asks those offices to take note of the problem affecting an athlete headed to the Games.
The support-staff dispute has become the central issue raised by Lisha as the Commonwealth Games begin, and she has sought to make the position known to the relevant administrators. Her email makes clear the distress the uncertainty has caused, and it documents her attempt to bring the matter to the attention of decision-makers. The athlete’s action constitutes a formal request for the authorities to address the arrangements affecting her.
The email was forwarded to officials from the Indian Olympic Association, the Cycling Federation of India, the Paralympic Committee of India and the Sports Ministry, according to the information released alongside Lisha’s statement. That notification marks the latest development in a dispute described by the athlete as having a significant emotional impact.
The issue remains framed around the support-staff arrangements for Lisha Das as the Commonwealth Games commence, and her written appeal to the IOA, CFI, PCI and the Sports Ministry records the distress she says the situation has caused. The correspondence places the responsibility for resolving the uncertainty with the national bodies charged with managing India’s participation at the Games.