The city is the indisputable Mecca of Indian badminton. But, the top brass of the Sports Authority of India seems to think otherwise. For, its Sports Training Centre at Saroornagar here has been asked to disband badminton, along with hockey, judo and handball!
As per official figures, the total inmates at the STC are about 80, and according to a fresh directive, only those who are in kabbadi and gymnastics can continue to stay as SAI inmates! It’s quite a startling development, since badminton players from the city like Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu and Jwala Gutta, among others, have been world-beaters for the last few years.
“Frankly speaking we have not been able to find genuine talent in badminton even from districts, and even among the best that have been recruited, we don’t think they can go too far in the big league,” claims an STC official, reflecting the general mood of the administrators.
The sudden shift in the policy is purportedly due to the SAI top brass wanting to cut down on ‘wasteful expenditure’ wherever the results are ‘negligible’, before a new sports policy is unveiled. Ironically, Saroornagar STC had a reputed coach in U. Bhaskar Babu (who will be retiring), whose products include former national champion Chetan Anand and who has also been personal trainer to Saina Nehwal.
What will now happen to the hockey coach, who in the past had worked with Indian women’s teams for World Cup and international events, remains to be seen. Currently, the STC inmates are in a quandary after being given notice to vacate by next month, when a fresh selection schedule is also to be finalised.
“We are still hoping for a change of mind. Similar instructions were issued to the STCs in Kerala but thanks to the successful lobbying by higher-ups in local sports bodies, orders were reverted and status quo suggested,” says a senior STC official on condition of anonymity. For now, question marks remain.
