New Delhi: Per week into successful her first Olympics bronze in Paris, Manu Bhaker was stunned to see the shine of her Olympic medal carrying off – actually. Inside a couple of days, the color of her second Olympic bronze medal additionally started to uninteresting.
Together with Manu Bhaker, shooters Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale are additionally contemplating changing their deteriorating Paris Olympics medals (PTI)
Not solely Manu – she turned the primary Indian to win two medals in a single Olympics since independence – fellow shooters Swapnil Kusale and Sarabjot Singh had been additionally pained to see essentially the most coveted prize of their sporting profession lose its lustre.
The poor high quality of medals awarded on the Paris Olympics have been blamed with complaints pouring in from medallists around the globe. The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) has advised AFP that the “defective medals” will probably be changed.
“The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage,” it quoted IOC as saying. “Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically.”
AFP quoted French on-line media outlet La Lettre as saying that “more than 100 defective medals have been returned by disgruntled athletes”. It defined that the medals “had to bear the brunt of the new products used”, as new rules banned a element of the varnish beforehand employed and “had to be replaced at short notice”.
India received six medals on the Paris Video games, Neeraj Chopra claiming the one silver. Wrestler Aman Sehrawat in addition to the boys’s hockey group too received bronze. Many hockey gamers have additionally seen their medals get broken.
Manu Bhaker’s father Ram Kishan advised HT: “The coating on both of Manu’s bronze medals has come off. It doesn’t look like the medals are just a few months old from this Olympics. Manu has now framed it and we have put it in a showcase at home. We don’t take it out for fear that it could get damaged even more,” he mentioned.
Sarabjot – he and Manu received bronze within the 10m air pistol combined occasion – mentioned he has spoken to Indian Olympic Affiliation (IOA) officers to get his medal changed.
“Within a few days I saw the upper layer start to chip off. It’s as if with every touch the layer was coming off. I was feeling bad looking at them. It’s a result of our hard work. I’ve spoken to someone to bring it to the knowledge of IOA so that something can be done,” he mentioned.
Swapnil, who received bronze in 50m rifle three place, mentioned he saved considering of the way to halt the deterioration. “I was thinking of ways to put a layer or something to preserve it, but I think there are IOC norms to be followed with respect to Olympic medals. It’s good to know that IOC is replacing the medals, I would like it to be changed,” he advised HT.
“I have gone to so many events after the Olympics where I have taken out the medal and showed it. It’s a proud possession and everyone wants to hold it. I don’t want to restrict myself where I can’t take out the medal,” Swapnil mentioned.
“The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks,” IOC was quoted as saying by AFP.
IOA president PT Usha mentioned if any Indian medallist took up the difficulty with the apex sports activities physique, she is going to instantly take it up with IOC. “An Olympic medal is a lifetime achievement and a cherished memory. If any athlete feels that their medal has deteriorated because of poor quality and needs a replacement, we will request IOC for replacement,” she mentioned.
The Paris Olympics medals had been showcased as floor breaking. Every medal is embellished with an authentic piece of essentially the most iconic image of France – Eiffel Tower – taken from the shares of the monument’s working firm. The opposite facet options the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and the Acropolis.
“Paris 2024 worked on the design of the medal with Chaumet, an LVMH Group company which is a Premium Partner of Paris 2024,” in accordance with the organising committee.
(With AFP inputs)