 "Vijay Goel ran riot in Rio")
Even as India's strongest ever contingent of over 100 sportspersons floundered in the first week of the 2016 Olympics, one particular Indian consistently continued to make news at Rio de Janeiro - unfortunately, for embarrassing reasons.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel received a sharp rap from the Rio Olympic organisers who accused him of flouting accreditation norms. In a strongly-worded letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta, Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee Sarah Peterson said: "We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals." The letter added that when the staff tried to explain that this was not allowed, the people accompanying Goel became aggressive and rude and sometimes even pushed past the staff. Peterson added warnings to Goel had gone unheeded and warned that if this was to occur again, Goel's accreditation would be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn.
Goel, 62, who was appointed sports minister in July this year in the cabinet reshuffle, has defended himself saying that he has done no wrong, and that whatever happened at Rio was within rules.
Twitterratti had a field day slamming Goel. "I'm waiting for India to get a medal. Third place? Nice. Second place? Super. But, tell me, why is Vijay Goel in Brazil in the first place?" read one tweet.
Goel's colleague in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former cricketer Kirti Azad too came down heavily on him. "The warning from the organising committee is the biggest insult to the nation," he said.
But Goel's goof-ups continued even after he returned from Rio. As the country waited with bated breath for Dipa Karmakar's gymnastics final, Goel too wished her luck on Twitter. Only, he spelt her last name as "Karmanakar". The following day, he tripped on Twitter again, this time while wishing 200-metres runner Srabani Nanda luck. Only, the image accompanying the message was not of Nanda but of Dutee Chand.
This is Goel's second stint as sports minister - the earlier one being when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister.
This is not the first time he has been caught on the wrong foot. Earlier this year, he was fined by the police for flouting the odd-even traffic scheme implemented by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. In the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections too, he left the BJP red-faced when, while addressing a rally in Delhi, he announced: "I will do everything possible to ensure the defeat of BJP in Delhi. We will work together to ensure its defeat." Embarrassed BJP leaders on the dais, including Arun Jaitley and V K Malhotra, exchanged a sheepish look at Goel's blooper.
Formerly a representative of the Sadar and Chandni Chowk constituencies in Delhi, Goel started his political career as member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. An alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, he later went on to do law from Delhi University. In his younger days, he would play kho-kho and basketball and maintains that he continues to play tennis to this day.
In recent years, he has put in a lot of effort towards restoring heritage structures. Now, it seems, an image restoration is in order.
Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel received a sharp rap from the Rio Olympic organisers who accused him of flouting accreditation norms. In a strongly-worded letter to Indian Chef-de-Mission Rakesh Gupta, Continental Manager for Rio 2016 Organising Committee Sarah Peterson said: "We have had multiple reports of your Minister for Sports trying to enter accredited areas at venues with unaccredited individuals." The letter added that when the staff tried to explain that this was not allowed, the people accompanying Goel became aggressive and rude and sometimes even pushed past the staff. Peterson added warnings to Goel had gone unheeded and warned that if this was to occur again, Goel's accreditation would be cancelled and his privileges at the Olympic Games withdrawn.
Goel, 62, who was appointed sports minister in July this year in the cabinet reshuffle, has defended himself saying that he has done no wrong, and that whatever happened at Rio was within rules.
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Apart from this, Goel also went on a selfie-spree in Rio, on one occasion enthusiastically entering the field of play to have a picture clicked with the Indian women's hockey team after their 2-2 draw against Japan. Some newspapers satirically noted his antiques by reporting that Goel had beaten the Indian athletes to an Olympic medal - not in sports but in selfie-taking.
Twitterratti had a field day slamming Goel. "I'm waiting for India to get a medal. Third place? Nice. Second place? Super. But, tell me, why is Vijay Goel in Brazil in the first place?" read one tweet.
Goel's colleague in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former cricketer Kirti Azad too came down heavily on him. "The warning from the organising committee is the biggest insult to the nation," he said.
But Goel's goof-ups continued even after he returned from Rio. As the country waited with bated breath for Dipa Karmakar's gymnastics final, Goel too wished her luck on Twitter. Only, he spelt her last name as "Karmanakar". The following day, he tripped on Twitter again, this time while wishing 200-metres runner Srabani Nanda luck. Only, the image accompanying the message was not of Nanda but of Dutee Chand.
This is Goel's second stint as sports minister - the earlier one being when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister.
This is not the first time he has been caught on the wrong foot. Earlier this year, he was fined by the police for flouting the odd-even traffic scheme implemented by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. In the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections too, he left the BJP red-faced when, while addressing a rally in Delhi, he announced: "I will do everything possible to ensure the defeat of BJP in Delhi. We will work together to ensure its defeat." Embarrassed BJP leaders on the dais, including Arun Jaitley and V K Malhotra, exchanged a sheepish look at Goel's blooper.
Formerly a representative of the Sadar and Chandni Chowk constituencies in Delhi, Goel started his political career as member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. An alumnus of Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, he later went on to do law from Delhi University. In his younger days, he would play kho-kho and basketball and maintains that he continues to play tennis to this day.
In recent years, he has put in a lot of effort towards restoring heritage structures. Now, it seems, an image restoration is in order.