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The Indian badminton contingent at the ongoing World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany has found itself embroiled in controversy after six of its twelve players were barred from competition due to what is being described as a grave administrative oversight. While the remaining half of the squad fought valiantly to win a historic bronze in the mixed team event, the celebration has been marred by frustration, anger, and unanswered questions from those left out.
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A Bronze Amidst Chaos
India’s six-member active badminton squad — Saneeth Dayanand, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, Varshini Viswanath Sri, and Vaishnavi Khadkekar — managed to clinch a bronze medal in the mixed team competition. The team defeated Macau and the USA, and pulled off a significant win against Malaysia in the quarterfinals before falling to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals.
Yet, the achievement has been overshadowed by the revelation that the other six players — Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan — were barred from participating. The reason: a critical failure by Indian team officials to correctly submit the complete list of participants during the mandatory managers’ meeting on July 16.
“Career Sabotage” Say Aggrieved Players
“This is not just mismanagement – it’s career sabotage. We demand answers, accountability, and that our voices be heard. We didn’t lose a match – we lost our right to even participate,” Alisha Khan posted on Instagram, expressing the anguish shared by many of her teammates. The statement has since gone viral across social media, drawing support from athletes and fans alike.
Multiple sources from within the team and the delegation have confirmed that the names of six players were omitted during the critical registration process with the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The managers present at the meeting — identified as BV Rao and Ajit Mohan from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) — reportedly failed to verify the submitted list and player categories properly.
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“The players who didn’t make it into the playing six were not even officially listed. This isn’t just about a clerical error — this is a systemic failure,” a source familiar with the incident said.
AIU Under Fire
The AIU, the governing body for university-level sports in India, has acknowledged the incident and said an internal investigation is underway.
“We have been informed about this and the matter is being investigated,” said Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary of the AIU, when contacted by the Press Trust of India (PTI). However, he declined to provide further details at this stage.
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According to those close to the team, the mismanagement didn’t begin in Germany but dates back to the very selection trials held in April at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar. Over 210 players participated, including several high-ranking national and international athletes.
According-to-those-close-to-the-team-the-mismanagement-didn’t-begin-in-Germany-but-dates-back-to-the-very-selection-trials-held-in-April-at-the-Kalinga-Institute-of-Industrial-Technology-KIIT-Bhubaneswar
“There were irregularities from the beginning. Players who didn’t even top the trials ended up playing. Those who did well were sidelined,” one insider alleged.
Mistakes in Management, Promises Unkept
The Indian delegation is being accused not only of clerical lapses but also of misleading players. According to multiple sources, the players left out of the mixed team event were given false assurances that they would be allowed to participate in the individual events scheduled to start later in the tournament.
“This is a recurring tactic — keeping hopes alive while offering no real solutions,” said one of the affected players, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “We worked hard for months. We made the team. We travelled halfway across the world. And then we were sidelined by our own officials.”
What has angered the players and their supporters even more is the lack of accountability. Despite the errors, there has been no public apology from the managers or AIU officials, nor any immediate corrective action.
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Errors Pile Up: From Names to Jerseys
Beyond the player registration fiasco, the Indian squad’s preparation and presentation also came under scrutiny. Reports emerged that even the team jerseys were mishandled.
“They printed our full names instead of surnames, and missed out on properly printing the country name,” said a player. “Because of this, the team was fined 1000 euros per match by FISU. Proper jerseys arrived only by the semifinals.”
Moreover, players were left without a designated coach. “We had no official coach at courtside. Players were guiding each other through matches — it was complete chaos,” said another player.
Achievements with a Caveat
Despite the limited resources and internal confusion, the six players who did take part in the mixed team competition brought home a bronze medal — a commendable result under the circumstances. However, for many, this medal feels hollow given the incomplete team and the lingering sense of injustice.
“It’s not just about winning. It’s about being part of the journey, representing your country, and gaining the exposure that international events provide. We lost all of that because someone couldn’t do their job,” said one player who missed out.
Many are now demanding that the AIU issue certificates recognizing all 12 players as part of the team to help safeguard their career prospects and records. “That certificate can mean the difference between future opportunities and complete obscurity. It’s the least the AIU can do,” a player argued.
Systemic Overhaul Needed
This incident has once again highlighted the larger structural issues plaguing Indian university-level sports — from lack of transparency in selection processes to insufficient logistical planning and poor athlete support systems.
Athlete unions and student bodies have started demanding reforms, including:
A formal apology and accountability from AIU officials responsible.
Standard operating procedures for international event submissions.
Mandatory presence of qualified technical staff and coaches.
Digital submission and verification systems to reduce human error.
Transparent selection trials with public scorecards and audit mechanisms.
A Change.org petition calling for an inquiry into the AIU and compensation for the affected players has already garnered over 10,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.
Conclusion
The barring of six Indian badminton players from the World University Games is more than just a bureaucratic oversight — it is a failure of the very system meant to support young athletes. While six players stood proudly on the podium, their teammates stood in silence, left out not by injury or form, but by red tape and incompetence.
This incident must serve as a wake-up call for Indian sports administrators. For a country aiming to be a global sports powerhouse, the time has come to prioritize professionalism, athlete welfare, and institutional accountability. Anything less would be a disservice to the dreams, sweat, and sacrifices of its rising stars.
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