Sports quota scam: Girl removed from list, misses admission into college

Hyderabad: Bontha Evangeline from Nirmal district participated in several archery competitions and should have been ranked 72 (1) as per the standard priority list.

However, Sports Authority of Telangana State deputy director G. Venkataramana, who was arrested on Wednesday, removed her from the priority list stating no letter was issued by the State Archery Association.

In reality, the letter was issued and received by SATS, the association also provided an acknowledgement. The girl lost an entire year as she couldn’t secure admission into a medical college under the sports quota. Her father Ambedkar Kumar told this newspaper, “Evangeline played nine times in the senior category at the national level and as well for in the National School Games. As per the standard priority list, she is supposed to be ranked 71 (1) but her merit certificates weren’t considered and she was ranked 72 (i). This biased ranking created a huge gap and Evangeline who secured 3,43,000 rank in Neet couldn’t get a seat but another candidate with NEET rank 3,96,000 got one under the sports quota following recommendations.”

He said Venkatramana had stated that Evangeline was removed from the priority list because the SATS did not receive a letter from the Archery Association.

Following several complaints, a committee under an official, Kamalakar, was formed to investigate the allegations but it ended in failure. Another committee was constituted under Mr Mohd Rafat Ali, which concluded: “The administrative errors committed by officials of SATS led to the loss of MBBS seat for Bonthu Evangeline.”

Her parents said she had not just lost an academic year but the episode had hit her confidence level and that Evangeline had suffered mental trauma.