Controversy Erupts Over Selection Issues in Indian Badminton Team at World University Games
Selection Controversy at World University Games
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) is facing backlash following allegations from a badminton player who claims officials attempted to undermine their careers.
On a day meant for celebration after securing a bronze medal in mixed team events, Alisha Khan, a member of the squad competing at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, stated that six out of the twelve selected players were intentionally excluded from team competitions.
India's team faced defeat against Chinese Taipei in the semifinals, ultimately finishing with a bronze medal. They had previously triumphed over Macau and the USA in the round of 16, followed by a victory against Malaysia in the quarterfinals.
The players who participated in the mixed team event included Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Saneeth Dayanand, Vaishnavi Khadkekar, Tasnim Mir, Devika Sihag, and Varshini Viswanath Sri.
In contrast, Alisha, along with Rohan Kumar, Aditi Bhatt, and several others, were not included in the final squad.
Alisha expressed her frustration on Instagram, revealing that during the manager's meeting on July 16, officials were tasked with selecting twelve names from the nomination list but only submitted six, neglecting the rest. According to FISU regulations, twelve players are permitted, and all were eligible. Despite their training and sacrifices, they were denied the opportunity to compete.
She further lamented, "The six who participated gave their all and secured bronze. However, only they will receive podium honors, merit certificates, government jobs, cash awards, and recognition. The rest of us will return empty-handed—not due to lack of effort, but because of a careless mistake by the officials. This is not merely mismanagement; it’s career sabotage. We demand answers and accountability."
Alisha reiterated her concerns, stating, "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."
In response, Baljeet Singh, head of the Indian delegation, mentioned that the coaches aimed to assemble a strong team, a decision that has been validated by their historic bronze medal win. He assured that a report from the team management has been requested.
Singh remarked, "It is unfortunate that we are discussing a controversy when we should be celebrating our medal. However, the AIU has requested a comprehensive report from the management. We have also encouraged all players to share their thoughts on what went wrong, and we will take appropriate action after reviewing their feedback."