New Delhi, September 13
India para-shuttlers Nitesh Kumar, Krishna Nagar, Maneesha, and Sukant Kadam are seeking more support from the Badminton Association of India (BAI) following their remarkable performance at the recently concluded Paris Paralympics.
India para-shuttlers returned with five medals, including one gold, two silver, and two bronze. Nitesh, who bagged gold in the men's singles SL3 category in Paris, took to X on Tuesday and expressed para-shuttlers' disappointment.
He stated that athletes are "highly dissatisfied" with the response and the interest from BAI regarding para-badminton responsibilities.
"Irrespective of the social media appreciation from @BAI_Media (which is very rare), we the athletes are highly dissatisfied with the response & the interest from BAI regarding Para badminton responsibilities, we sincerely request BAI & @Media_SAI to handover para badminton to PCI," Nitesh wrote on X.
https://x.com/niteshnk11/status/1833570612687868384
BAI responded to Nitesh's remarks, saying "BAI is working on a concrete plan for #ParaBadminton & its future growth. Each of the medallists, coaches, and staff will be hearing from us personally to understand, and get insight on the action plan, which is not alone about celebrating the success but long-term projects."
On Thursday, he reiterated his stance and claimed that the para-athletes are not getting any appreciation from BAI.
"It is not only mine but the entire badminton team's concern that we are underdeveloped under BAI. Appreciation is not there from BAI. We face a lot of issues when we go and play a tournament. We are facing many such issues. We are not getting any appreciation from BAI. It was a very hectic year, and we did not want to say anything ahead of the Paralympics," Nitesh told ANI.
India's sole Paris Paralympics badminton champion went on to point out the lack of support from the federation. He appealed to BAI to form a designated body for para-badminton that can handle things and the issues that they face.
"Our appeal is BAI should have a designated body for para-badminton. A small team that minutely takes care of everything. Not just social appreciation but also handling things in a way that helps us deal with small issues that we face before tournaments. So, that we do not face humiliation and we can focus on our game. If BAI is unwilling, then they should hand it over to PCI, who have the expertise in handling these things as they do it for other para-sports," Nitesh added.
Para-shuttler Krishna Nagar shared the same views about the lack of support from BAI. He feels that it is "very insulting" that the BAI did not appreciate the para-shuttlers who clinched medals in Paris.
"As you saw, 13 para-shuttlers participated in the Paralympics, but still there is no recognition for us. Neither BAI gave us a send-off ceremony nor any call or support absolutely nothing. Even after returning, they did not appreciate the medallists. No calls, no social media. This is very insulting. The same thing happened in 2021, and the same thing is continuing. So, it feels really bad that we do not get support from our own governing body. The way PCI knows about para games. So it is better to go under PCI. They know how to handle the players. When we posted on social media, then they posted. When we mail them for anything, they do not reply. At least PCI listens to us, they don't even care," Nagar lamented.
Manisha Ramadass, who bagged a bronze in the women's singles SU5 category, believes BAI should take responsibility.
"Even I feel that what BAI does is not good because they should at least encourage us to play in a big event like the Paralympics, and we have five medals, but they didn't take any responsibility during the matches. What Nitesh Bhaiya says, I will agree with him, and he was right in whatever he was saying, like if BAI can't handle them, then please, why don't they just hand it over to PCI," Manisha remarked.
Sukant Kadam, who fell short of a bronze medal, wants BAI to treat body shuttlers and para-shuttlers equally and offer full support to them.
"We want BAI to treat abled body shuttlers and para shutters equally like our PM does. If you can add, we were participating in the biggest event of the last four years. We reach the airport, but there is no pick-up for us. We want BAI to fully support us, or they should allow us to go under PCI, who has the knowledge about our game and injuries? We need to place to get an opportunity to grow," Sukant noted.