DNA has learnt that BAI has got the final clearance from Sports Authority of India (SAI) in August to shift the doubles camp to Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium.
Jwala Gutta’s differences with national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand are well-documented, but this is perhaps her first chance to score a point over the Hyderabad-based world famous coach.
Just as Gopichand savours his trainee PV Sindhu’s silver medal success at the just concluded World Championships, Gutta’s adamant stand over not entering the former coach’s academy in Hyderabad has given the Badminton Association of India (BAI) reasons to shift the doubles camp for the next Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic Games to Delhi.
DNA has learnt that BAI has got the final clearance from Sports Authority of India (SAI) in August to shift the doubles camp to Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium. “IG stadium authorities have shown their inability to host the doubles camp and suggested the Delhi University indoor hall. However, we’ve found out that there are no proper lodging facilities on the campus, so we’ve again requested the SAI to explore IG stadium,” a senior BAI official told DNA on Friday.
This is seen as a big setback for Gopichand’s academy as shifting the doubles camp would mean that legendary Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her would not be available any more for players training in Hyderabad. The 45-year-old former Malaysian national was roped in by SAI to train the doubles specialists in India in December 2015. Under Kim, India made considerable progress, as seen during the Sudirman Cup recently.
According to BAI insiders, the rivalry between Gutta and Gopichand also has undertones of Hyderabadi political rivalry – the two are apparently distantly related. Jwala went all out against Gopichand in the Mumbai High Court, supporting Prajakta Sawant when she alleged the former India No. 1 men’s player of bias.
Gutta also attacked Gopichand before the Rio Olympics when she and her partner Ashwini Ponnappa were not included in the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) Scheme.
However, it was the sudden demise of BAI chief Akhilesh Das which completely changed the equation within the body few months back. His place was taken by Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma. Recently retired, Gutta suddenly found sympathisers in her crusade against Gopichand and with doubles camp now out of Hyderabad, many within BAI believe that badminton activities in future would be divided amongst different centres in the country.
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