Shuttlers in a fix after BAI gaffe

Badminton players in the capital are in a fix since last month when Badminton Association of India (BAI),in its annual general meeting granted affiliation to a parallel body against the existing Delhi Badminton Association

Badminton players in the capital are in a fix since last month when Badminton Association of India (BAI),in its annual general meeting granted affiliation to a parallel body against the existing Delhi Badminton Association.

The parallel body Delhi Capital Badminton Association (DCBA) was granted permission to take charge,but at the same time the BAI did not disaffiliate the old Delhi Badminton Association. Since the DBA hasn’t been made defunct,both DBA and the DCBA are both busy conducting selection tournaments. The players seem to be the most affected in this entire chaos as they are confused and wondering which tournaments to really turn out for.

Now that the two bodies have been formed,each one has started its inter-district tournament. Then DBA is scheduled to hold its state ranking tournament. I am really confused whether to play the inter-districts organised by DCBA or to first play DBA’s inter-district and then state ranking tournament. Since the team for the nationals will be selected from these tournaments,I really don’t know which association to go with, says Delhi U-19 doubles champion Harshwardhan Bisht.

Similar comments were echoed by the Delhi men’s single champion Ashish Sharma. If that is the scenario,we players are in a fix because we can’t decide which association to go with. Our duty is to play but when it comes to such matters it is difficult for a player to focus on his game, he says.

Earlier,DBA used to organise state ranking tournaments in which the participation used to be close to 1200 entries. But since DCBA has started its South and South-East inter-district tournament,the numbers have scattered and the footfall has come down to around 400. Likewise,DBA deemed it necessary to hold an inter-district as well and currently,their inter-district tournament is underway in the North-West region.

Since we have filed a case against the DCBA for forming an association without giving prior notice,the verdict is scheduled to be out on July 11. This verdict will also decide whether the DBA or the DCBA will be the functional body. Till then,we have decided that no player shall be barred from playing any official tournament. Be it be DCBA or the DBA,the players will not get affected. As DBA,we are an association of players and make sure the young players will not be the victims of this war among the associations. In fact we are about to put a notice on our DBA website ascertaining that no player will be confined only to the DBA tournaments, says DBA secretary SP Singh while talking to Sportline.

A BAI official when contacted to throw light on the matter,said,The BAI has officially affiliated DCBA and pertaining to that the players should go with the right association. But since DBA hasn’t been made defunct,I can understand the players’ position. But till the time the matter is sub-judice,I can’t comment on this matter. But as a general opinion,the players should be allowed to play all the tournaments,” the official said.

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