logo
Six Indian badminton players barred from World University Games over alleged administrative lapse

Six Indian badminton players barred from World University Games over alleged administrative lapse

The Hindu3 days ago
The Indian badminton squad that won the mixed team bronze medal at the ongoing World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany has been hit by a controversy over selection after six of the 12 chosen players were barred from participating due to an alleged administrative lapse.
Twelve players were selected and sent to represent India, but only six were allowed to compete as officials failed to submit all names correctly during the managers' meeting on July 16.
"This is not just mismanagement – it's career sabotage. We demand answers, accountability, and that our voices be heard. We didn't lose a match — we lost our right to even participate," wrote Alisha Khan, one of the players left out, on Instagram.
"This isn't just a mistake. It's career sabotage by AIU and our team officials. We demand justice." According to sources, BV Rao and Ajit Mohan were the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) officials who attended the meeting. The AIU, which is the nodal body for university-level sports in the country, acknowledged the incident.
"We have been informed about this and the matter is being investigated," AIU Secretary Dr Pankaj Mittal told PTI while refusing to comment any further.
According to a source, the issue was not just an error but stemmed from "systematic irregularities" starting from the selection trials held at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar.
"During the managers' meeting, officials were given a letter listing all 12 players from India. It was their responsibility to read it carefully, check for missing or injured players, and confirm or adjust the names accordingly. However, they took it lightly," the source said.
"The names of players who hadn't attended trials were there. They came here only to enjoy. In the meeting, they also made a basic mistake. They were supposed to declare which player would play singles, doubles, and mixed, but didn't process it properly." Saneeth Dayanand, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, Varshini Viswanath Sri, and Vaishnavi Khadkekar were the six who competed in the mixed team event.
India defeated Macau but lost to Hong Kong in the group stage, then beat the USA in the round of 16 and Malaysia in the quarterfinals before losing to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan were part of the 12-member squad but did not get to play.
Pujari has written to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), demanding a thorough investigation.
'This level of mismanagement has caused significant emotional distress to the affected athletes, especially when Team India went on to win a historic medal at the Games. The players who were left out of the nomination list have been unfairly denied the chance to contribute on the field and be acknowledged as part of this achievement,' he wrote in his email.
'To date, there has been no accountability or concrete explanation provided by the managers. A mere apology cannot suffice at this level of international representation, where the careers, dreams, and morale of athletes are at stake.
'Through this email, I respectfully urge the concerned authorities to take this matter seriously, conduct a thorough review, and ensure that such avoidable and damaging incidents are never repeated in the future.' Expressing frustration over the incident and apathy of the Indian officials, a player said, "It's a historic achievement that our team won a bronze with just six players, but that certificate and medal will change their lives, not ours, when we were supposed to be there as a team.
'The frustrating thing is the officials don't even admit their mistakes or show any remorse," he said on condition of anonymity.
'The AIU can at least issue certificates acknowledging all 12 as team members to protect our career prospects and rights.' The selection trials were held in April at KIIT, Bhubaneswar, with over 210 players, including top-tier national and international university athletes, participating.
However, the source alleged that the players who actually topped the trials were left out of the mixed team event despite being part of the squad.
'The team manager made the blunder. The officials didn't focus during the meeting, and after the trials they didn't follow the proper process. They just submitted six names, so the other six were not allowed by FISU,' the source said.
'I don't know whether to call it a technical error or sheer misfortune. Entries were mailed, confirmations received, the team travelled all the way, and yet in the manager's meeting they missed out names. I don't know how it is possible to overlook such a basic responsibility.
'Players have been misled throughout. Now that they couldn't stand on the podium, officials are giving them false hopes about participation and medals in the individual events. The players worked really hard, and if they are robbed of their chance like this, it is unacceptable.' A player also alleged that officials goofed up the team jerseys, leading to a fine, an issue highlighted by Pujari in his letter as well.
'They printed full names instead of surnames, and the jerseys didn't carry the country name properly. The team was fined 1000 euros per match for incorrect jerseys. Only from the semifinals onwards did we get proper jerseys sent from India,' the player said.
'There wasn't even a proper coach. Players were sitting court-side, coaching each other during matches.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Solidity of Dravid and Pujara': Ashwin lauds Sai Sudharsan's knock at No. 3 but slams India management for hurting Karun Nair's confidence
‘Solidity of Dravid and Pujara': Ashwin lauds Sai Sudharsan's knock at No. 3 but slams India management for hurting Karun Nair's confidence

Indian Express

time23 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

‘Solidity of Dravid and Pujara': Ashwin lauds Sai Sudharsan's knock at No. 3 but slams India management for hurting Karun Nair's confidence

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin slammed the Indian team management for disrupting Karun Nair's confidence by drafting him in at No. 3 in two matches before dropping him in the Manchester Test. Ashwin was, however, effusive in his praise for Sai Sudharsan, who returned to the XI at Nair's expense and cracked a half-century, drawing him into a comparison with No. 3 stalwarts Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. Sai Sudharsan's inclusion meant that Nair was axed despite receiving the backing from India captain Shubman Gill on match eve. 'We have had conversations with him (Nair). We think Karun is batting well. (In) first match, he didn't played at his number. It's difficult when a player is making a comeback in a series like this, and but I don't think there's any issue with his batting,' Gill told reporters on Tuesday. While he batted at No. 6 in the first Test, scoring 0 and 20 as Sudharsan batted at 3 on debut, Nair was sent up to the one-down slot for the Edgbaston and Lord's Tests that followed. However, the 33-year-old could not convert his starts, entering a frustrating sequence of 31, 26, 40 and 14. Speaking on 'Ash ki Baat' on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: 'Karun Nair has never played at No. 3. Now, by playing him at No. 3, you have put his mindset in a block. But credit to Sai Sudharsan because it is not easy being a youngster after getting dropped and with India 1-2 behind in the series to come into the fourth Test and respond the way he did. I think he has to own that No. 3 for the near future to be able to give a bit of solidity for the team.' However, young southpaw Sudharsan made the most of his second chance since his debut at No. 3 on Wednesday. The Tamil Nadu batter's stoic knock ensured that India did not crumble after losing openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal post lunch. Biding his time, Sudharsan cracked his maiden Test half-century before falling on 61 after spending 196 minutes at the crease. Ashwin said Sudharsan's assurance and solidity reminded him of India's most successful No. 3 batters, Dravid and Pujara. 'We have seen Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid bat at No. 3. Sai Sudharsan showed that sort of solidity. He was able to leave the ball; of course, the wicket was a good one, but he negotiated a tough phase. He earned the right to score those runs. I am a bit upset because I am a huge well-wisher of him. He could have scored a hundred. That guy has a big appetite for runs. He just missed out on a well-deserved hundred.'

Indian man arrested for stealing Rs 3.5 lakh worth of makeup, bags from Singapore Airport
Indian man arrested for stealing Rs 3.5 lakh worth of makeup, bags from Singapore Airport

Indian Express

time25 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Indian man arrested for stealing Rs 3.5 lakh worth of makeup, bags from Singapore Airport

A 38-year-old Indian man was arrested for allegedly stealing several items worth around Rs 3.5 lakh from multiple stores at Singapore's Jewel Changi Airport and the airport's transit area, The Strait Times reported. According to a press release issued by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on July 23, the man is believed to have targeted a total of 14 retail outlets, stealing items such as bags, perfumes, and cosmetics before leaving the country. The incident came to light on May 29 after a retail supervisor at one of the shops in Jewel Changi Airport noticed a bag missing while checking the stock. The police were notified at approximately 4.28 pm that day. The report also said that upon reviewing CCTV footage, authorities spotted the suspect taking the item and exiting the shop without making any payment. 'The complainant said that a bag had gone missing from inside the shop located at Jewel Changi Airport,' the police stated. Authorities identified the man, but by then, he had already left Singapore. However, his return to the country on June 1 allowed authorities to take action. Officers from the Airport Police Division nabbed him during transit and searched his luggage. Several items believed to have been stolen were recovered, the report added. Further investigations revealed that the accused had stolen items from 13 other stores within the airport complex, amounting to thousands of dollars in losses. The report also stated that the man is set to be formally charged in court on July 25 with theft and fraudulent possession of property. If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison, a fine, or both. Recently, the US Embassy in India issued a warning to visa holders and applicants, following the incident where an Indian woman was caught shoplifting items worth approximately Rs 1.1 lakh at a Target store in Illinois. According to reports, the woman was on vacation in the US. She was seen pleading with police officers to let her go, saying she would pay for the items.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store