“DMK Minister Moorthy Is Responsible”: Jallikattu Player Alleges Foul Play In Competition

Jallikattu competitions were held at Madurai Palamedu and Trichy Suriyur on 16 January 2024.  DMK Sports Minister Udayanidhi Stalin flagged off the jallikattu tournament at Alanganallur, Madurai. In the 9th round of this competition, Abhisithar from Poovanthi, Karthik from Karupayurani, and Diwakar from Gunnathur exhibited equal strength, and the final round proceeded briskly. Karthik from Karuppayurani emerged as the first-place winner by taming 18 bulls in the final round. Abhisithar from Poovanthi secured the second position by taming 17 bulls, and Diwakar from Gunnathur secured the third position by taming 12 bulls. Minister P. Murthy presented a car to Karthik, the first-place winner, on behalf of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. It is noteworthy that Karupayurani Karthik won the first prize in 2022, and Poovanthi’s Abhisithar won the first prize in 2023 in the Alanganallur Jallikattu competition

However, Abisithar says that there has been foul play with regard to announcing the winners this year. Speaking to News18, he said, ” I am Abhisithar from Poovanthi village, Sivaganga district. Last year in the Alanganallur jallikattu, I tamed 30 bulls and won the first prize but they announced that I tamed only 26. At that time also they did politics in this. This government is doing only politics. The minister is responsible for this. This year they announced about Karupayurani Karthik. But last year, he came in through a recommendation. You can ask all the others too. We need justice. Even this time, he has come in through recommendation. He tamed 11 bulls in three rounds while I tamed 11 in 2 rounds. When I asked why he was given 3 chances, they abused me and had the police assault me and throw me out. I am disheartened by this. What they did was claim that I was creating problems, this Karthik and all his team members prevented me from taming the bulls. I tamed 17 bulls and he has done the same. The committee disregarded this and announced the first prize for him. They should keep politics out of sports. I am going to court. I want them to decide after watching the video and announce the first-prize winner. In 2023, for this same person, they conducted a jallikattu in Chatrapatti till 6.30 pm – this is unheard of. Here they said the timing is only till 5.30 pm and because the government is doing as per their wishes. This is purely politics. I don’t want anything, announce me as the first prize winner after watching the video.”

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