17 January,2011 09:27 AM IST | | Harit N Joshi
The disappointment and anger was evident in Waheeda Khan's voice. She was disqualified along with compatriot Vidya Mehta after being found guilty of not completing the full marathon route yesterday.
Waheeda, one of the top two elite Indian runners, shockingly clocked two hours 45 minutes, which created suspicion in the officials' minds. It was only when other participants lodged a complaint that the organisers investigated the matter.
Following their disqualification, Jyoti Gawate 3:05:30, Shastri Devi 3:08:15 and M Sudha 3:10:52 were named the top three Indian finishers after a four-and-half-hour delay.
Waheeda pleaded her innocence. "I have not done anything wrong. I did whatever the volunteers and the officials on the route told me. I had asked them before taking any turns," Waheeda told MiD DAY over the phone.
According to Indian athletes co-ordinator Sunita Godara, Waheeda and Mehta's 'running chips' did not cross the 24.2 km checkpoint at Bandra Reclamation and they accidentally took the half marathon route, missing about nine kilometres of the course.
Waheeda, who finished fourth last year on the same route, said it is impossible to memorise the course. "First of all, I am not from Mumbai. So, I don't know the city well. Even though I ran here last year, it is not possible to memorise the route," she said.
Waheeda was eager to challenge the race referee Dave Candy's decision. "Two girls cannot go wrong. I would like to protest this result," she said.
However, she failed to lodge an official protest in the stipulated 30 minutes from the time the results were declared.
Waheeda also rubbished veteran runner Leelamma Alphanso's claim that she covered some part of the route on a patrolling bike. "I haven't done anything like that. It is not true," she said.
