'Withdraw remark or we’ll throw our medals into sea,' Kerala women's handball team warns Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Athletes from the women’s beach handball team, who won national medals, have protested against Sports Minister V Abdurahiman’s remark alleging match-fixing. The players declared that if the Minister did not withdraw his allegations, they would throw their medals into the sea. The announcement was made during a protest in front of the Sports Council office on Monday.

Responding to the protest, Minister V Abdurahiman said that those who wish to return their medals are free to do so.

Kerala lost the final match 2-0, and the Minister alleged that the team deliberately lost. However, association officials stated that goalkeeper Aishwarya’s illness affected the team’s performance in the final. Disputes within the national-level handball association led to the Kerala Olympic Association, instead of the state handball association, selecting the beach handball team. The Sports Council had not initially supported sending the team, leading to protests from association officials. Eventually, the sports department granted last-minute approval.

Minister stands by ‘match-fixing’ remark

The controversy over the National Games continues, with Sports Minister V Abdurahiman and Kerala Olympic Association President V Sunilkumar at odds. The Minister reiterated on Monday in Malappuram that he stands by his ‘match-fixing’ claim.

Association officials pointed out that when E P Jayarajan was the Sports minister, Rs 55 lakh was allocated to the Hockey Association, with Rs 35 lakh specifically for conducting the National Championship. They demanded proper accountability for the utilisation of these funds.

The Kerala Olympic Association, in a press statement, ridiculed the Minister, accusing him of trying to take credit for the achievements of E P Jayarajan and calling him an ‘eight-legged mammoth’—a sarcastic remark implying overreaching authority.

The Minister had also criticised P T Usha, stating that she had remained silent when Kalaripayattu was excluded from the National Games. The ongoing dispute between the Sports Minister and the Kerala Olympic Association continues to intensify.