Nandini Agasara wins bronze medal in Asian Games
Nandini Agasara, a 20-year-old heptathlete from India, won a bronze medal in the women’s heptathlon event at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. She scored 5,712 points in the seven-discipline event, which includes 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin throw and 800m. This is her second international medal, after winning a silver medal in the 100m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2022.
Agasara’s victory was celebrated by her countrymen and women, who praised her for her hard work and dedication. She also received congratulations from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the national governing body for athletic sports in India.
Swapna Barman alleges Agasara is transgender
However, not everyone was happy with Agasara’s achievement. Swapna Barman, another heptathlete from India who came in fourth place with 5,708 points, posted a controversial message on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Agasara of being transgender and demanding her medal back.
“I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to a transgender woman at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China,” Barman wrote in a now-deleted post. “I want my medal back as it is against the rules of our Athletics. Help me and support me please. #protestforfairplay.”
Barman did not provide any evidence to back up her claim, nor did she mention Agasara by name. However, it was clear that she was referring to her fellow competitor, as they were the only two Indian heptathletes in the event.
Agasara refutes the allegation and challenges Barman to show proof
Agasara was shocked and hurt by Barman’s allegation, which she said was baseless and unfair. She denied being transgender and affirmed her identity as a woman. She also challenged Barman to show proof of her accusation, and said that she would also show that she had won the medal for India fair and square.
“I know what I am. Ask her to show proof. I will also show that I have won the medal for India. I only want to do well for the country,” Agasara told India Today. “Now we have won, so people have started talking about it. I will take up this issue with AFI for sure. I wanted to enjoy the moment of winning the medal but going back to India as my mother is not well.”
Agasara said that she had been practicing hard for four months to prepare for the Asian Games, and that she had overcome many challenges and difficulties to reach this level. She said that she had no idea why Barman would make such a false accusation against her, and that she hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.
World Athletics bans transgender women from women’s events
The incident comes after World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field and other running sports, banned transgender women who began transitioning after puberty from competing in women’s events earlier this year. The ban was based on the argument that transgender women have an unfair advantage over cisgender women due to their higher levels of testosterone and muscle mass.
The ban has been criticized by many human rights groups and activists, who say that it is discriminatory and violates the rights of transgender athletes. They also point out that there is no conclusive scientific evidence that transgender women have a significant edge over cisgender women in sports.
Some cisgender athletes have also expressed concern that the ban could be used to target them based on their appearance or performance, and subject them to invasive tests or examinations to prove their biological sex.
