Athlete Thakkadapally Prathibha Alleges Threats After Raising Safety Concerns

International athlete Thakkadapally Prathibha has alleged that she faced threats and a complete lack of institutional backing after raising concerns regarding the safety of athletes and sports administration in Hyderabad. The medallist stated that she ultimately chose to remain silent to protect her sporting career and personal goals.

Her statements follow recent allegations regarding former minister V. Srinivas Goud. Prathibha stated that she had confronted the former minister during the previous government's tenure, warning him after he allegedly made certain remarks to her.

According to Prathibha, an incident took place in December 2022, following her medal-winning performances in international competitions held in England and Turkey. She explained that she formally brought the situation to the notice of the sports ministry, but instead of obtaining support or resolution, she was subjected to threats.

Prathibha also referenced her involvement in highlighting the Hakimpet molestation case concerning minors. She explained that because the young victims could not speak out for themselves, she had stepped forward and approached media outlets to draw public attention to the matter and address issues affecting sports and athletes. Following media coverage of the incident, an official was suspended in August 2023.

However, Prathibha alleged that taking the issue to the sports ministry resulted in further intimidation. She described feeling isolated without institutional support, noting that several individuals who experienced mistreatment or attempted to raise their voices were threatened, left their sports careers, or got married.

Clarifying her stance, Prathibha emphasised that her actions and public statements were not driven by political interests. She stated that as an athlete representing India, she does not support any political party and only sought accountability and protection for athletes.