Asian Games 2023: Swapna Barman apologises for 'lost bronze to transgender athlete' post on X

Controversy started with Barman narrowly missing bronze medal in women's heptathlon event.

Indian athlete Swapna Barman has found herself at the center of controversy for her comments following a fourth-place finish in Heptathlon at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. Swapna, who had previously achieved fame for her historic gold medal win in women's heptathlon at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, took to social media to express her grievances. However, she later deleted her post and has now issued an unconditional apology.

Barman's tweet, which has been deleted, contained an emotional outburst. She expressed deep regret for her actions and acknowledged that her emotional reaction was against the ethos of sports. Importantly, she did not name any athlete in her now-deleted post that left many to speculate about the cause of her frustration.

The controversy stemmed from Barman narrowly missing out on the bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023. Despite battling through a spinal injury and a nightmarish performance, she finished with 5708 points, which was just four points short of securing the bronze medal.

It was after this heartbreaking loss that Barman's tweet emerged, which alleged that she had lost her Asian Games bronze medal to a transgender athlete. Her post read, "I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to transgender women 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. #protestforfairplay." However, she later deleted the post.

While Barman did not mention Nandini Agasara or any specific athlete in her tweet, Nandini, who had claimed the bronze medal in the women's heptathlon event responded strongly to the allegations. Nandini vehemently defended her identity as a woman and challenged Barman to provide proof of her claims. "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," Nandini declared.

Nandini had achieved a personal best score of 5712 points and secured the bronze medal in the women's heptathlon event. Her accomplishment added fuel to the controversy ignited by Barman's tweet, creating a tense atmosphere surrounding the Indian contingent at the Asian Games.

Swapna Barman's heartfelt apology shows her willingness to take responsibility for her emotional response and her sportsmanship. In her sincere statement, she expressed deep regret for her actions and acknowledged the profound disappointment and emotional outburst that had led her to vent her frustration on social media.

The incident has raised questions about fairness and the importance of addressing such sensitive matters through proper channels. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) will likely play a crucial role in resolving this matter.