ABF General Secretary for BAI AGM

NEW DELHI, July 30: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) will attempt to clarify its position with the International Badminton Federati...

NEW DELHI, July 30: The Badminton Association of India (BAI) will attempt to clarify its position with the International Badminton Federation (IBF) — regarding the unique situation precipitated by the formation of rival body, Indian Badminton Confederation (IBC) in its Annual General body Meeting here this Sunday.

The Asian Badminton Federation General Secretary and International Badminton Federation council member, Punch Gunalan, will act as IBF observer at the meeting. Gunalan, based in Kuala Lumpur is expected to arrive in India on Friday evening.

“I have also extended an informal invitation to Prakash Padukone to be in Delhi during that time and sort out the matter,” said BAI Executive President VK Verma, during a press conference here on Wednesday. Verma, however, clarified that Padukone was not being invited in his capacity as IBC chief.

Story continues below this ad

The BAI chief was confident that 25 of 31 affiliated state units of BAI will attend the Sunday meeting. He added that the Bihar Badminton Association which had announced its disaffiliation from the BAI has returned to the parent organisation.

BAI focus on juniors

The Badminton Federation of India (BAI), realising that its actions may not help it attain the desired objective, has decided to shift the objective instead. Today, the BAI executive president VK Verma, who is also the Air-India Director (Delhi region), announced a new action plan with the focus on junior talent in the country.

And, according to him, the Air-India Open Major Ranking Tournament which begins at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here tomorrow, will be the first step in this direction; a policy shift, virtually forced upon the apex body by the reluctance of top players to participate in BAI’s season opener.

“We are looking at an Indian team after three or four years, hence the focus on under-19 players. Besides, the government may not clear a team for the 1998 Asian Games and Commonwealth games. Given that, our focus is on the Asiad 2002,” explained Verma, who did not commit himself on what made the seniors stay away from this meet.