Asian Games: Chinese Athlete Wu Yanni Writes Jyothi Yarraji an Apology Letter Following False-Start Drama
Wu Yanni, a member of the Chinese national team, sent Jyothi Yarraji an apologetic letter for the false start incident that occurred during the women’s 100-meter hurdles competition at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
“I’m really sorry that my performance was disqualified because of a false start; it disappointed everyone. Wu sent a message on her official Weibo account, a Chinese Twitter-like social media site, saying, “I sincerely apologize to all my friends who have supported me and to the participants in tonight’s race.
I appreciate the official’s ultimate judgment, the rules, and the rivalry, and I applaud my colleagues and competitors who crossed the finish line. At the ‘Big Lotus’ stadium’s last competition of the day, the women’s 100-meter hurdle race was halted after the pistol was fired. Replays made it very evident that Chinese runner Wu Yanni was to blame for the false start since she had already started running before the shot was fired.
The judges disqualified Yanni after reviewing the race’s beginning on the on-field screen. The Indian camp was shocked to learn that Yarraji would also be sent out owing to a false start. The Indian management and spectators, particularly in India, were quite outraged by this. Many criticized the referees for trying to punish Yarraji for a false start that, according to replays, she initiated on her own.
The race was delayed for a time as a result of Yarraji’s prolonged protest and standing her position.
The 100 millisecond rule states that in sprint events, any competitor who responds within 100 milliseconds (0.100 seconds) of the gun going off is said to have begun incorrectly. The judges therefore let both of them to participate, and Yanni placed second behind her fellow Chinese citizen Lin Yuwei (12.74), with Yarraji coming in third (13.04).
The race’s third-place finisher, Jyothi Yarraji of India, subsequently earned the silver medal because Yanni was declared ineligible.
