The threat of derecognition looming large over the Badminton Association of India (BAI), worries India's legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone.
The threat of derecognition looming large over the Badminton Association of India (BAI), worries India's legendary shuttler Prakash Padukone.
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| Prakash Padukone.
Pic/Atul Kamble |
The Sports Ministry had issued a show-cause notice to the BAI in August to explain why the government should not initiate action to withdraw its registration under the Societies Act for violating the guidelines of the Ministry. In the notice, director (sports), Deepika Kachhal, levied five charges against BAI, one of which was that the government's guideline limiting the national sports body president's tenure to 12 years was not adhered to, or face de-recognition. BAI chief VK Verma has already completed his 12-year term.
Padukone sided with the government's directive. "I am totally for the government's policy. It's not against the sport. I hope the BAI will follow the guidelines. Badminton will take a step back if the BAI gets derecognised," Padukone told MiD DAY yesterday.
Though Verma insists that a lot of water has flown under the bridge since the notice was issued, a senior BAI executive committee member told MiD DAY that the Ministry's decision is likely to be challenged during BAI's January 2011 meeting in Rohtak, Haryana. "The government has given three months time to carry out various amendments to the BAI constitution," Verma told MiD DAY yesterday. However, according to a BAIu00a0u00a0 executive committee member: "We are planning to challenge the government's notice."
The derecognition would result in the BAI not receiving any financial help from the government, meaning the ultimate losers will be the players. "A lot of players will suffer if that happens," said Padukone.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Premier Brands, one of the main sponsors, may also withdraw if the BAI is
derecognised.
