Bangalore, Oct 6: Ace doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta’s unsavoury conduct during the inaugural Indian Badminton League may earn her a life ban from the Badminton Association of India (BAI).
Hyderabad’s Jwala, the icon player for Krrish Delhi Smashers at the IBL, allegedly attempted to stop her team-mates from playing against Banga Beats, since the Bangalore side had replaced their foreign player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark’s Jan Jorgensen as the former was deemed unfit to take part for the rest of the tournament.
Banga Beats approached the IBL governing council and got the nod initially, but after Jwala raised her voice, the council had forced Beats to play Arvind Bhat instead of Jorgensen.
BAI served a 14-day showcause notice on Jwala. The champion doubles player responded by saying: “It was a decision by the Delhi franchise and (was) not an individual move. Owners asked me to act like that and there is nothing wrong on my part. I have been appointed an icon player by Delhi and as a captain I acted.”
BAI’s disciplinary committee discussed the issue and recommended suspension for life or for a certain period of time.
The governing body might also consider favourably an apology from Jwala, according to sources.
Later in the day, BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta is said to have written to Jwala for her response to the recommendation. She will have seven days to do that.
If BAI enforces the ban, Jwala might miss out on a chance to team up again with Ashwini Ponnappa at the Denmark Open Super Series which starts on October 15. The duo patched up recently and was eager to make their mark at the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year.
Beats coach and Olympian U Vimal Kumar felt BAI’s recommendation was “too harsh” and that it “lacked foresight” as Jwala and Ashwini are expected to be crucial to India’s campaign in the Uber Cup next year.
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