Jammu Tawi, Jul 17 (UNI) International athlete from Jammu Kashmir, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh, a Wushu player, broke down in tears and called it a day from the game during a protest on Friday organised by outstanding athletes who have not figured in the recently released final selection list for jobs under the sports quota, alleging irregularities in the recruitment.
The athletes, however, also sought a review of the list released by the government on June 10.
Accompanied by his family members, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh today joined a group of outstanding athletes staging a protest here outside the Maulana Azad Stadium in the heart of the city.
A native of Jammu and Kashmir, Bhanu is an international medallist and has represented the country at various national and international events. A bronze medallist in the 2018 Asian Games, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh, flanked by outstanding sportspersons, while speaking to the media, said, “I tested positive for prohibited substances in 2018 and was banned, but my ban period was over and I am still playing for the country.”
“On several occasions, I appealed to the government to consider my request, but nobody paid heed,” said Bhanu.
An upset Bhanu, who broke down during the interaction, said, “I have called it a day. Enough is enough. I am not going to play the game anymore. I am selected for the Asian Games, but let me decide whether I go or not.”
“Goodbye to my game is my final decision, and I am happy to go with it,” he said.
Bhanu said, “If you (government) don’t want to consider me for any reason, don’t do it, but I beg, for God’s sake, hundreds of deserving outstanding athletes have been left out of the list; include them.”
“Do justice. Why is nobody listening to us?” he said with moist eyes and promised to stand by them in the coming days.
“Years have passed, and it is unfortunate that I was absorbed just as a Special Police Officer (SPO) with J&K Police. I am not going to represent J&K anymore,” he said, adding, “Why are you interviewing me? I am a criminal. I am a terrorist-that’s the way I am being treated,” he said in a loud voice.
Playing Wushu since 2012, he also challenged the selected athletes to compete against him in any sport.
“I got several offers from other states of the country, but I wanted to stay with Jammu and Kashmir to keep its flag flying high. But this is a sad state of affairs,” he said.
Bhanu, who also remained a member of the J&K Sports Council, assured that he would make a comeback, run his own NGO and work for the welfare of athletes.
“If I tested positive for doping, why was I made a member of the J&K Sports Council? Why was I given a cash prize?” he lashed out at the competent authorities managing sports in Jammu and Kashmir.
Achievements of Bhanu: Participation in the 4th World Junior Championship at Macau, China, in 2012; silver medal at the Hong Kong Championship in 2014; bronze medal at the Paras Cup, Iran, in 2015; bronze medal at the World Wushu Championship, Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2015; gold medal at the South Asian Games, Shillong, in 2016; Master Challenge Cup, Macau, China, in 2016; gold medal at the Paras Cup, Iran, in April 2017; gold medal at the Sanda World Cup, Xi’an, China, in 2019; and silver medal at the 2024 BRICS Games in Russia.
Apart from this, a Jammu and Kashmir State Awardee in 2017, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh has plenty of international and national medals in his kitty, making him one of the top outstanding athletes not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in the country.
Previously, in the wake of protests by outstanding athletes not selected in the sports quota jobs list, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on July 7 justified the recruitment rules, claiming that the appointments were governed by statutory rules.
In a clarification issued by the J&K Sports Council, it stated that the appointment of outstanding sportspersons in the union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is governed entirely by statutory Rules and Government Orders framed from time to time by the Government after detailed examination, inter-departmental consultation, legal scrutiny and approval of the competent authority.
Notably, the final list of athletes selected under the sports quota policy vide Notification No. 02-JK (YSS) of 2026, released on June 10, triggered protests across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Department of Youth Services and Sports had received a whopping more than 200 objections from around 95 applicants and non-applicants after the publication of the provisional selection list in February this year.
J&K DYSS clarifies eligibility criteria after Athlete’s protest
Jammu Tawi, July 17 (UNI) Hours after an international Wushu athlete Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh broke down during a protest against denial of a sports quota job and bid goodbye to the game, the Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, issued an official clarification pointing out that he had not disclosed his involvement in a case of violation of anti-doping rules.
It is a matter of record that while submitting his application under S.O.-12 of 2022, every applicant was required to furnish a declaration affirming that he had not been found guilty of any Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Despite the existence of the above-mentioned international disciplinary decision, Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh submitted a declaration stating that he was not guilty of any Anti-Doping Rule Violation, the clarification noted.
The furnishing of a declaration contrary to the official record raises serious concerns regarding the correctness and bona fides of the information supplied by the applicant. Government recruitment processes are founded upon utmost candour, transparency and truthful disclosure by every applicant. Any incorrect declaration has legal consequences under the applicable rules.
The Department said that it is an admitted position that Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh has represented India and the union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in Wushu and has secured medals during his sporting career. The Department acknowledges the achievements of every athlete who has represented the nation. However, eligibility for appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022 is governed exclusively by the statutory provisions contained therein and not by individual claims or past sporting achievements alone, the clarification further stated.
Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh had submitted his application seeking appointment under S.O.-12 of 2022 and during the scrutiny process, all applications were subjected to detailed verification from the concerned National and International Sports Federations and other competent authorities to ascertain the authenticity of the achievements and the eligibility of the applicants under the governing Rules, read the clarification.
It further stated that during such verification, it was established that Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh had been held guilty of committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation by the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee in Doping Case No. 2018-IC-01 (Surya BhanuPratap Singh) vide Decision dated 04 June 2019.
The said decision categorically records the presence of prohibited substances, namely Mephentermine and Phentermine, in the athlete’s sample. Consequently, under Article 10.2 of the IWUF Anti-Doping Rules, the athlete was declared ineligible, a period of ban was imposed, and all competitive results obtained at the concerned event were disqualified, including forfeiture of medals, awards, prizes, ranking points and all other consequential sporting benefits.
“The athlete was further prohibited from participating in any competition or sport-related activity during the period prescribed under the Anti-Doping Rules,” it said.
The Department further clarified that the decision regarding the disqualification of Surya Bhanu Pratap Singh was not taken in a mechanical or unilateral manner.
In strict adherence to the principles of natural justice, the athlete was afforded a reasonable and adequate opportunity of being heard. He was permitted to submit his representation and all documents which he intended to rely upon in support of his claim.
The representation so submitted was duly examined on its merits by the competent authority in light of the applicable statutory provisions governing the recruitment process.
The Department reiterates that recruitment under S.O.-12 of 2022 has been conducted strictly in accordance with the notified Rules, after multi-level scrutiny and verification by the competent authorities. Every candidate has been assessed uniformly on the basis of the statutory eligibility conditions without exception.
