Can't pass instant judgements without probe, maintains BAI observer
MOHALI: The ongoing protest against suspected overage shuttlers' participation at the All India Under-13 Ranking badminton tournament turned murkier here on Friday as the aggrieved parents took to the Field of Play (FOP), thereby forcing the main round proceedings to be cut short with just 21 matches being played on the day.
Many of the aggrieved parents, even the ones whose kids failed to go past the qualifying rounds on Thursday, decided to stay back and returned to the venue at the Shivalik Public School in Mohali, where they began protesting against the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
Despite all the off-court drama, the organisers decided to proceed with the main round matches as planned until some parents disrupted the proceedings by entering the FOP to lodge their protests. Slogans against the BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra were also heard while a few went up to the BAI observer and Arunachal State Badminton Association (ASBA) secretary, Bamang Tago, who landed in the city on Friday.
Tago gave a patient hearing to all the parents, who demanded immediate suspension of the suspected overage players, while the others paid no heed to the repeated requests from the organisers to vacate the playing court. Tago too made an appeal to the parents to step out of the playing area and ensure smooth functioning but his words fell to deaf ears.
This forced the organizing committee to suspend all matches till the proposed meeting between the parents and the BAI secretary Mishra at the same venue on Saturday morning. Mishra was originally scheduled to visit the venue on Friday evening.
"The BAI has not rejected the claims of the parents, these are serious allegations. There will be appropriate action against those found guilty of age fudging. There is an age fraud committee of the federation, they are on the job," Tago told TOI in an exclusive chat.
"But if one is asking for instant judgement, we're sorry. There can't be judgement without a proper investigation, and any probe takes time. Law will take its own course, the BAI can't be forced to pass any order or ban any player without a thorough investigation. The suspected players are already playing under protest," he added.
So will the tournament proceed as planned?
"Of course yes, there is no going back on that. We are having age group competitions after a two-year hiatus, and wait this is just the start of the season. There will be 2-3 more tournaments where the genuine players can earn rankings," he said.
"I requested the parents to co-operate with the association. Be it the investigation process or the competitions, the BAI is committed to ensure a transparent functioning. After all, why should a genuine player suffer for the protests, he or she could be anybody's kid, and if competitions are being halted how will they gain those crucial points?" Tago said.
The ASBA secretary now hopes that Saturday's meeting between the parents and the BAI secretary will help resolve the crisis and allow the organisers to conduct the meet without hiccups.
"The BAI secretary has already directed the chief referee to make a list of the suspected players, and all their details will be scrutinized by the panel, which includes state secretaries. Mishra is meeting the parents here on Saturday, hopefully the issues will be resolved and we can have a smooth tournament.
"Ultimately, the motive is the same for both sides, we do not want the genuine players to suffer and from BAI's side, be assured the guilty will face the heat after the investigation," he signed off.
Goa to host ranking meets in July
The Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium at Navelim in Goa will host a couple of ranking tournaments later this month. Organised by the North Goa District Badminton Association under the aegis of Goa Badminton Association, the Under-19 boys and girls junior rankings tournament will be held from July 15 to 21. This will be followed by the Under-15 and Under-17 boys and girls sub-junior rankings meet from July 23 to 30.
