[1]Maharashtra shuttler Prajakta Sawant might have won the first round in her battle against chief national coach Pullela Gopichand, when she alleged he was out to ruin her career and had harassed her mentally in the past, but the fight is apparently far from over.
However, Prajakta found instant support from the fiery Jwala Gutta.
In a furious tirade, the senior shuttler hit out against what she termed discrimination, and called for it to be pulled out like a noxious weed. “Why are players being selected on the basis of which academy they play for, and not on their talent?“ Jwala demanded. “I was outraged when I learned about what happened. How can anyone tell her she can't be part of the national camp when she is clearly eligible? If the chief national coach is allowed to run his own private academy, there is bound to be a conflict of interest,” Jwala added.
Jwala is no stranger to problems of this sort. In 2007, she and a few other players were dropped from the team for the Sudirman Cup. They were refused entry despite insisting they were ready to foot their own bills. Since then, her relationship with the authorities has been frigid. “I have been saying the same thing for a while. It is only now that Prajakta is beginning to see how things are,“ she said. “I have no personal problems with Gopi,“ Jwala said. “He inspired me at one time. But now, I cannot sit by and just watch. I don't know if he's responsible or someone else is,“ Jwala added.
The row started when 20-year-old Prajakta was denied entry to the national coaching camp at Gopichand's academy . She later moved the Bombay High Court against the coach accusing him of bias. On Wednesday, the High Court allowed the 20-year-old to attend the training camp.
Meanwhile, Gopi said that the Badminton Authority would have the last say.
Links:
[1] http://archive.asianage.com/jwala-guttajpgcropdisplayjpg-832