World No. 3 shuttler Saina Nehwal is yet to confirm her participation either in the team or in the individual segment of the 79th senior National badminton championships to he held at Vijayawada from January 29, according to Badminton Association of India secretary (events), K.Ch Punnaiah Choudary here on Tuesday.
He said in the team’s list sent by Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB), the name of the star shuttler was missing. “We have contacted her and we are yet to receive any response from Saina,” Mr. Choudary added.
Organising Committee secretary P. Ankamma Choudary said other star shuttlers like K. Srikanth, P. Kashyap, Gurusaidutt, P.V. Sindhu, Gutta Jwala, Ajay Jayaram and Aswini Ponnappa were taking part, in the event being held for the second time in the city.
Players are taking advantage of the lacuna in the existing BAI law which is not clear on participation in the premier National events.
“There is no clarity that the player should take part both in the team and individual events.
Though BAI made it mandatory for players to participate in the senior Nationals, several shuttlers are skipping the individual events citing various reasons.
“We would like to suggest an amendment to the law in the next annual general body in March to ensure quality participation in the national events,” said a senior administrator. Many felt the game can reach generation-next only when star players take part in domestic events.
