Prajakta Sawant questions selection of Indian team for SAG, BAI denies any favouritism

Doubles player Prajakta Sawant on Saturday slammed selection of Indian bminton team for South Asian Games (SAG) in Nepal, saying players who don't even feature in domestic tournaments have been picked for regional multi-sporting event. Bminton Association of India (BAI), however, has denied any allegations of favouritism, saying players were picked on basis of a set of selection criteria. In a series of tweets, Sawant questioned selection of team and urged BAI president Himanta Biswa Sarma to look into matter.

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"SAF (sic SAG) Games team for Bminton is alrey decided ufficially..players are putting stories on Instagram and Facebook of arriving at Nepal. On what basis selection has been done?? @himantabiswa @BAI_Media," Sawant wrote on her twitter handle.

"Players from Gopichand acemy are only supposed to play for Indian team??who doesn't even participate in All India tournaments and are selected directly to Indian team? @BAI_Media @himantabiswa. please answer."

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However, Sarma me it clear that re was favouritism in selection of team. "BAI select team for tournaments on basis of a set criteria. Team for South Asian Games have also been selected as per set criteria which is in consonance with affidavit filed by BAI in Delhi and Kerala High court. favour has been given to any one," Sarma told PTI. According entries on official SAG website, women's doubles players Kuhoo Garg, Meghana Jakkampudi, and Aushka Parikh found a place in 11-member Indian team but Shikha Gautam and Ashwini Bhat K, who h claimed ir maiden National Championship title early this year, were igred.

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Sawant described omission of Shikha and Ashwini as "injustice". 

"Injustice is happening again and again, Nationals champions of Woman doubles 2019 are t included in Indian team for SAF Games ... Teams are send for tournaments before it's officially anunced what @BAI_Media and @himantabiswa is doing," she tweeted.

team event will begin on Sunday, while individual competition is scheduled to start on December 3.

In last edition held in Guwaharti, India h claimed both gold and silver medals in all five categories -- men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles -- besides winning men's and women's team events.

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