Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jun 22: International athlete Joyline M Lobo, who hails from Shirthady, almost didn't make it to the upcoming senior inter-state athletic championship to be held in Guwahati, all due to an 'oversight' by the Karnataka State Athletic Association.
Thankfully, Twitter came to her rescue, and after tweets to union sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Joyline is all set to partcipate in the athletic event.
Currently one of India's best triple jumpers, Joyline was shocked to find that her name was missing in the final list of 33 athletes sent by Karnataka to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The Guwahati athletics meet will also serve as a final qualifying meet for the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. Joyline had completed all preliminary tests and passed physical fitness test, and had even booked her ticket to Guwahati from Mangaluru.
On enquiry, the state athletics association blamed 'clerical error' and 'oversight' for the omission of her name. The AFI said that it could not do anything in the matter as it only considers the names officially given by the state athletics association before the deadline.
Left with no other option, Joyline took to Twitter and tweeted about her hapless situation, seeking help from persons concerned. "I am India's second best triple Jumper. Karnataka State Athletic Assosiation by oversight has missed sending my entry for the upcoming Senior Inte-State Athletics Championship. This is the Final selection trial for Asian games. Request you to intervene and help me," she tweeted to sports minister Rathore.
Twitterati backed her strongly and appeals to give her a berth in the Guwahati meet was retweeted several times, tagging not only the sports minister but also Prime Minister Narendra Modi. MP Rajeev Chandrashekar too endorsed her participation and appealed to minister Rathore to intervene.
BJP Dakshina Kannada general secretary tweeted that timely intervention by the sports minister has saved Joyline's career. "Timely intervention by Sports Minister @Ra_THORe saves the career of budding athlete @LoboMural.Must appreciate the effort of @nandanmallya & @rajeev_mp for making the voice heard.Well done!!!," he tweeted.
Speaking to daijiworld, Joyline said, "I got a call directly from an AFI official who invited me to Guwahati to participate in the athletics meet. I am travelling to Assam now."
Asked if minister Rathore had acted on her tweet, she said, "I am not aware of that, but I got the call from AFI after I tweeted the minister."
In February 2017, Joyline clinched the gold and re-wrote her own state record in the women’s triple jump in the state athletics championship. She then participated in 57th inter-state senior athletic championship and secured silver medal with a leap of 12:52 meters.