NEW DELHI: In response to the overwhelming participation of players, the Badminton Association of India (BAI) has decided to extend the deadline for its one-time Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme until July 10. The scheme was introduced to address the rampant issue of age-fudging cases in the sport.
The BAI's Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme is specifically designed for registered players who possess BAI identification cards but have incorrect dates of birth or discrepancies in their age information.
Originally, players were given a 20-day window from June 6 to June 25 to rectify their accurate dates of birth. However, due to the tremendous response, the BAI has chosen to extend the deadline.
"There has been great response and seeing that we have decided to extend the date to July 10, and I am hoping this extension will bolster our mission of compliance and betterment of players and Indian badminton," Sanjay Mishra, BAI secretary, told PTI.
Age fraud has long been a persistent issue in badminton. Several cases of age-fudging were reported during the All India Sub-Junior under-13 ranking tournament in Hyderabad last year, as well as at the ongoing U-13 event in Mohali.
In an effort to combat this problem and ensure a level playing field, the BAI has implemented strict measures against players found guilty of age fraud in BAI-sanctioned tournaments. These measures are outlined in the BAI's new Standard Operating Procedure for age verification and penal code, which was approved during the Executive Committee Meeting and Annual General Meeting held on May 21, 2023, in Guwahati.
The association has made it clear that players who do not update their data during the Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme's grace period may face severe penalties, including disqualification from BAI-sanctioned tournaments, a two-year ban, filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against parents, and potential disciplinary actions.
Additionally, the BAI has announced that all suspected players will be subjected to TW3 (bone test) or other approved medical tests at BAI-authorised centres to verify their age and ensure fair competition.
By extending the deadline and implementing stringent measures, the BAI aims to tackle the issue of age fraud and promote a transparent and equitable environment for all players in Indian badminton.
(With inputs from PTI)
