Asian Para Games: Delhi HC Seeks BAI And PCI Responses Over Exclusion of Wheelchair Players

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the responses of Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) on a petition alleging the exclusion of wheelchair players from the selection trials for the upcoming Asian Para Games.

A single-judge Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notices to the two sports bodies based on a petition filed by Alphia James, and directed them to file their responses by the next hearing scheduled for August.

In her plea, the petitioner stated that she is a top player who secured gold medals in the National Para Badminton Championship in 2023, and was initially included in the list of probables to represent the country in the Asian Para Games, set to be held in October in Hangzhou, China.

However, the Badminton Association of India and the Paralympic Committee of India later introduced new criteria that made it nearly impossible for several players, especially single wheelchair players, to qualify for the trials.

The petition filed through lawyer Ashwin Kumar Nair alleged, “There has been discrimination against wheelchair para-athletes as no wheelchair player (male or female) fulfils the criteria set by the committee for singles competition in the selection criteria.”

It further added, “The Badminton Association of India published the alleged final selection list for trials for the Asian Para Games 2023 on July 4, wherein the petitioner, along with 12 others, were arbitrarily left out based on the newly introduced criteria.”

The plea further contended that the entire trial process was a sham, as wheelchair players should also have the opportunity to participate.