Indian athlete Swapna Barman sparked a controversy at the ongoing Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, alleging that she lost the bronze in the women’s heptathlon event to “a transgender woman”.
Barman finished fourth in the event, with the bronze medal going to her compatriot Nandini Agasara, who accumulated 5712 points. China’s Ninali Zheng won the gold with 6149 points, while Ekaterina Voronina of Uzbekistan took the silver with 6056 points.
In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), the 2018 Jakarta Games gold medallist wrote: “I have lost my Asian Games bronze medal to a transgender women (sic) 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.”
Though Barman did not name Agasara in the post, in an interview with The Bridge, she said she had protested against the Telangana athlete earlier, too. "I have protested earlier against her. I was surprised to see her name in the Asian Games list. Federation officials are asking me to protest again; they are saying that they are not doctors, only doctors can verify. They are asking me to go to NADA, WADA. I ask for help with folded hands."
She also claimed that it is impossible for a woman to “train for four months and get to this level”. "Transgender athletes, who have testosterone levels above 2.5, cannot compete in events over 200 metres. No girl can come up in heptathlon so fast. I have trained for 13 years in this, it is impossible," Barman told The Bridge.
She also added that if she does not get the medal, she will “expose everyone”.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old Agasara refuted the allegations, and challenged Barman to prove them. She, reportedly, asserted her identity as a woman and said she will take up the issue with the Athletics Federation of India. She also said she will be leaving for India early as her mother was not well.