India's heptathlon athlete Swapna Barman had a disappointing outing at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou on Sunday as she couldn't defend her title, finishing fourth in the event.
On the other hand, fellow Indian Nandini Agasara clinched the Bronze Medal in the women's heptathlon event, aggregating a total of 5712 points which is her personal best.
The defending champion Swapna had to return home empty-handed and she triggered a controversy on social media. claiming that the athlete that won bronze is a 'transgender', who can't participate in the event. However, Swapna later deleted her post.
Nandini topped the final event of the heptathlon, the 800m race, to promise a podium finish ahead of Barman. Other than the 800m event, Nandini won the 200m race earning her 936 points.
Barman, the gold medal winner in the event in 2018, wasn't happy with what unfolded on the track.
"I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to a transgender woman at the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China. I want my medal back as it is against the rules of our Athletics. Help me and support me please," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
As per the rules of World Athletics regulations which came into effect earlier this year, every single athlete who has gone through what has been defined as 'male puberty' by World Athletics is barred from competing in female world ranking events.
"Transgender athletes, who have testosterone levels above 2.5, cannot compete in events over 200 meters. No girl can come up in a heptathlon so fast. I have trained for 13 years in this, it is impossible that she trains for four months and gets to this level," Swapna added.
Talking about the winner, Nandini was cherished with a remarkable achievement and thanked everyone including the government of India for the crucial assistance.
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"It is because of the support given to me by the Athletics Federation of India and the government of India that I have been able to come this far. I thank each and everyone who supported me, especially the government of India for this medal. Thank you each and everyone who supported me," she said after winning the medal.