Asian Games 2023: Jyothi Yarraji wins silver medal, false start controversy explained

Jyothi Yarraji won a silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles final at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Sunday. But the race was marred by controversy with a false start by a Chinese athlete at the heart of the drama. An initial bronze medal for Yarraji was soon upgraded to silver after official protests – including by the Indian athlete herself.

Here’s how the events transpired: Yuwei Lin and Yanni Wu of China were part of the lineup for the gold medal. There was a false start at the beginning of the race and it appeared that Wu, in lane four, had moved earlier than indicated by the officials.

by Jyothi Yarraji to bag silver in the Women’s 100m #Hurdles ⚡

The ⭐ hurdler finished the race in 12.91s, just whiskers away from the spot #Athletics #HangzhouAsianGames #AsianGames2023 #Cheer4India #SonyLIV pic.twitter.com/eEqpjnIhAJ

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) October 1, 2023

The officials looked at the replays and surprisingly disqualified both Wu and Jyothi Yarraji in the next (fifth) lane. India’s national record holder protested and asked for a second look.

Yarraji reportedly argued that her hands were on the ground when the Chinese athlete took off and it did not classify as a false start. She presented her case to the technical officials and after nearly 10 minutes of arguments, and confusion, it was decided to allow both athletes to run.

Wu protested the new decision and sought permission to run under protest, which is allowed by rules, and finished second while Yarraji finished third.

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) lodged an official written protest with the organisers immediately after the race concluded. They demanded that Wu be disqualified as she had made a false start under Rule 16.8.

B̶r̶o̶n̶z̶e̶ ❌
Silver ✅

No there for our champion. Way to go, @JyothiYarraji! @ril_foundation @WeAreTeamIndia @19thAGofficial | #LehraDoTeamIndia #WeAreTeamIndia #Cheer4India #IndiaAtAG22 #HangzhouAsianGames #RelianceFoundation #RFSports… pic.twitter.com/50BtGJK98A

— RF Youth Sports (@RFYouthSports) October 1, 2023

“The rule says whoever is leaving the ground first will be disqualified. Jyothi was still on the ground (when Wu dashed off), so they cannot say Jyothi left the ground. The other girl was almost one and half step ahead of her,” said Anju Bobby George, a World Championship medallist who is now the federation’s vice-president.

Soon after, Wu was disqualified and Yarraji was promoted to the silver medal spot. There was more confusion as the decision was not made clear to everyone and the Chinese athletes celebrated the one-two finish.

It only became transparent when it was time for the medal ceremony and Jyothi Yarraji stood second on the podium.

What is Rule 16.8?

According to World Athletics rule 16.8, “..any athlete responsible for a false start shall be disqualified,” with additional information reading, “when one or more athletes make a false start… the Starter should warn or disqualify only such athletes who, in their opinion, were responsible for the false start. This may result in more than one athlete being warned or disqualified.”

Who said what on the controversy?

Last & definitely not the least, @JyothiYarraji ends ‘s spectacular Athletics medal haul of the day with aat #AsianGames2022

A power packed performance by the ace athlete, as she clocked a time of 12.91s

MANY CONGRATULATIONS JYOTHI! #Cheer4India #HallaBol… pic.twitter.com/qGWUrRPiEg

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 1, 2023

On being pressed relentlessly by the Chinese media on the protest, Yarraji said: “It is important for every athlete to stand for herself. So I did that.”

Sitting next to her, Lin Yuwei, who took the gold medal, smiled and broke the tension with an applause.

Yarraji added, “I could have ran faster. But the controversy threw me off a bit.”

Anju Bobby George: “Officials wanted to make sure that Wu is running. They disturbed Jyothi, that was our concern, otherwise she could have run much better. She was in very unstable mind and suddenly the race started but still she got silver.”

George added: “The rule says who is leaving the ground first will be disqualified and Jyothi was still on the ground, so they cannot say Jyothi leaves the ground. The other girl was almost one and half step ahead of her and they came to Jyothi suddenly, it’s all drama they did. It was very unusual, all the athletes and coaches were making sound, wrong decision, what are you doing.”

“This is the first time I am seeing in such a competition that somebody is out and then in. We protested by submitting $100. It was to be done within 30 minutes and we did that immediately.”

No chance of them touching my Indian Athletes. I will always stand up for my athletes and my Country

— Adille Sumariwalla OLY (@Adille1) October 1, 2023

Athletics Federation of India president and World Athletics Vice President and Executive Board member Adille Sumariwalla said: “They (judges) committed a mistake, they have accepted it and medal (silver) has been given (Yarraji).”

“Rule says you cannot break the gun, it comes on the screen (if false started). What they did not realise was, the Chinese runner (Wu Yanni) has clearly done it (false started), naturally when the first girl goes out before the gun, others will also get out.

“Yarraji went second, and they were after her (Yarraji) to try and get her out. I said from above (the stands) that let her (Yarraji) run under protest. But to make the Chinese woman (Wu Yanni) run under protest is wrong. You can’t do that because she has broken the gun.”

Sumariwalla added: “We lodged a protest. It was black and white and the decision (to upgrade Yarraji’s bronze to silver) was to be there.”

“But rest assured that this will be taken up at the highest level to ensure that this does not happen again.”