After producing a number of champion shuttlers and playing a major part in the success story of India’s biggest star Pullela Gopichand, coach SM Arif has decided to calls it quits. But the sad part is Arif leaves the court with a heavy heart and complains of the ‘humiliation’ by the authorities. Speaking to The Indian Express, from his residence in Hyderabad, Arif talks about how the authorities have made him the scapegoat and blamed for the ‘poor showing’ of Indian badminton teams in the recent past.‘‘Once doubts have been created in anyones mind, there is no point in hanging on,’’ the 59-year-old coach expresses himself. ‘‘It’s humiliating, when one looks back at his/her contribution to the game,’’ he adds. Arif’s sudden decision was based on certain decisions taken at the recent AGM of the Badminton Association of India, wherein it was decided that it was high time that BAI engaged ex-internationals as chief coaches, for a simple fact that they have better knowledge.Says Arif, ‘‘I totally agree with that, but then casting doubts on skills, knowledge and then pin-pointing blames is something that was just intolerable.’’ To make matters worse Arif was even blamed for the poor show in the doubles as well — this despite the fact that, BAI had engaged specialist coaches in the past.Employed with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Arif informs, ‘‘this mud-slinging has been going on for quite some time now.’’ Laughing it off, Arif says that he would be soon putting in his papers to his department. ‘‘All things have to come to an end. Though it was not the way I expected, but then its not the end of road.’’
