Authorities to be blame for poor performance of players

Sports least priority for state

Authorities to be blame for poor performance of players 

Yash Khajuria 

JAMMU, Oct 9: The poor performance by the Jammu and Kashmir squad in the recently concluded 77th Senior National Badminton Championship in Srinagar, has exposed the apathetic approach towards the game by the authorities. 

Sources said the J&K Badminton Association (JKBA) which hosted the prestigious event did not conduct the necessary 21-day long coaching camp for the 10-member state squad to hone their skills before the championship.

Interestingly, sources while alleging favoritism in the selection have said that the team for such important championship was selected with dark eyes as no selection trails were held before the state team’s selection and the players had been selected randomly.   

The shuttlers had expressed displeasure over not conducting the camp but could not do much as the championship was round the corner, sources added.

“As per rule, it is mandatory for any association to organise a coaching camp for the selected players before competing in the championship, and the results would have been different if they had been given adequate time for preparations”  a shuttler said.

Despite the fact that the states shutters haven’t performed impressively in the recent past but, when the championship was to be held in J&K, it was a high time to prove the potential by competing against rest of the states and it was necessary for the JKBA to conduct a coaching camp at least for a month for better preparation, he maintained.

“It is better not to compete in the championship when you are not sufficiently prepared. In fact, it was an ideal opportunity for us to perform against ace shuttlers of the country but unfortunately that did not happen,” another shuttler said.

“The more time you devote for preparation, the better will be the results. For example, had our team been selected one month before the championship, we would have had ample time at our disposal to prepare for the competition,” the shuttler remarked.

“Our state already lacks sports infrastructure and such things will only worsen the situation further,” he maintained.

“How can you expect from us to clinch titles in such championships when you are short of practice and that too against those best in the business,” he quipped.